१३. हिरवंगार झाडासारखं (कविता) Hirvangar Zadasarkha (Like a Green, Lush Tree) - a poem

कवी सांगतात की झाड एखाद्या ध्यानस्थ ऋषीसारखे स्तब्ध बसते, जणू मौन पाळत तप करत असते. झाडावर बसणारे पक्षी झाडाचे स्वतःचे नसतात, तरीही झाड त्यांना आपले मानते. झाडाच्या मुळावर घाव घातला तरी झाड शांतपणे ते सहन करते, कोणतीही तक्रार न करता.

At the start of the poem the poet compares the tree to a meditating sage who sits absorbed in silent penance, in the same way the tree too stands calm and still. The birds that come and perch on it are never truly its own, they may fly off at any moment, yet the tree claims them with affection and becomes their shelter regardless. Not only that, even when someone strikes a blow at its very roots and wounds it, the tree offers no resistance and bears the injury in silence. Through this the poet wants to show the tree's immense endurance and its unconditional, unclaiming love.

कवी सांगतात, झाडाच्या पानावरून दवाचे टपोरे थेंब अलगद वहीच्या पानावर उतरतात. झाडाकडे नुसते टक लावून पाहिले तरी आपल्या शरीरातसुद्धा हिरवा रंग विरघळल्यासारखे वाटते, आणि एका क्षणापुरते आपले रक्तसुद्धा हिरवेगार झाल्याचा भास होतो. झाडाकडे बघून आयुष्य जणू ताज्याताज्या खुडलेल्या फुलासारखे टवटवीत वाटू लागते.

The poet then paints a tender image, large drops of dew gathered on the tree's leaves gently slide down and settle on the pages of a notebook, as if nature and the poet's own writing share a delicate bond. Simply gazing steadily at the tree makes the colour green seem to dissolve into one's own body and mind, and for that moment even one's blood feels tinged with green. This experience makes life feel as fresh and lively as a flower just plucked, the poet says.

झाडाचे बाहू जणू नेहमी पसरलेले असतात, वाटसरूंना मिठीत घ्यायला, त्यांना आसरा द्यायला. पानगळ झाल्यावर झाड पुन्हा नवी पालवी धारण करते, जणू नवी नवरी नवी वस्त्रे नेसते तसे. नवी पालवी फुटली की झाडाच्या अंगभर टवटवीतपणा पसरतो आणि आधीचा शीणवटा, मरगळ झटकली जाते.

The poet describes the tree's generosity, its arms seem forever outstretched, ready at any moment to gather a weary traveller close and offer rest. When the season of falling leaves arrives the tree looks bare and stripped, yet afterwards it dons fresh foliage all over again, much as a new bride puts on new garments at her wedding. The moment fresh shoots break out across its body, all its weariness and dullness is shaken off in an instant and the tree looks lively and spirited once more.

पक्ष्यांच्या गोड आवाजांत झाडाचे स्वतःचे एक संथ जीवनगाणे लपलेले असते. कवी विचारतात, आपणही सळसळत्या पानासारखे हसावे कसे, झाडासारखे घट्ट पाय रोवून मुरावे कसे. शेवटी कवी सांगतात की हिरव्यागार झाडासारखे जगावे कसे आणि रोजचे चिंतन झाडासारखेच करावे, हाच खरा धडा आहे.

The poet says that within the sweet chirping of birds lies the tree's own quiet, unhurried song of life, something that cannot simply be heard but must be felt. He then poses a few questions to himself, how does one learn to laugh as freely as a rustling leaf, how does one learn to stand rooted and unshaken like a tree. Through these very questions the heart of the poem unfolds, the poet tells us that we must learn how to live as vibrantly as a green, lush tree, and that our daily self-reflection too should be as calm and steady as the tree's, and this is the poem's final message.