O withering tree, once vibrant, now dry and breaking,
The soil, in its wisdom, deems you must go, to remain fertile,
You, noble tree, served through countless seasons,
Giving shade, giving leaves, giving life.
Yet the soil, indifferent beneath the green veil,
Sees not your worth, sees only the yellowed leaves,
Birds no longer sing from your branches,
Squirrels once at home, now scatter and roam.
Still, you stand tall, steadfast and unyielding,
Your leaves, like silent tears, fall to the ground,
Your branches, symbols of strength and resilience,
The soil, now withholding its life-giving water,
Allows you to wither, lets you become compost,
Yet in your decay, a promise of renewal,
From your remains, life will spring anew,
In the eternal cycle, your spirit endures.
By Utkarsh Yadav