Decided to speak

Here's an old poem I wrote months back...
One of my personal favourites!

Decided to speak

There was a tree

Near an old street

Sat and meditated

For years and years

Until one fine day

A kindly God arrived

Gave a boon to him

Ask anything, you'll get

The God promised 

To come next day

And grant whatever

The tree wished for

Tree started thinking

What did it really need?

Sunshine, rain and earth

It always got plenty

Flowers, fruits and leaves

Always produced in season

Playful squirrels and birds

Rested happily on branches

All through the night

The tree pondered

What was worth having

Suitable gift from God?

At dawn the cuckoo called

And the tree knew at once

What he really wanted

Decided he wanted to speak

He had never spoken before

Even when screaming inside

The rabbit when killed by a dog

Delicate sapling when trampled

With the first rays of Sun

The God arrived again

And asked if tree was sure

The Gift can't be returned

'Yes I am', said the tree

The apparition disappeared

'Haah! I can speak now'

Growled the proud tree

A milkman was passing

Early morning with milk

'Good morning! Regards

To your sacred white cow!'

The milkman in utter shock

Looked up at the branches

"Hey! Its me", added the tree

"Bhoot! Bhoot!" away he ran

Rumour spread like wildfire

And the street got deserted

"These cowardly humans!

But I like solitude", tree said

Two white pigeons were

Snuggling in their nest

Tree said, "It's so hot here!"

In fright pigeons flew away

"Not really my friends"

Said the tree to himself

Very soon every squirrel

Disappeared with the nuts

Even the seasonal woodpecker

Decided to bore other trees

"At least I'm spared the pain"

But it was bitter sarcasm

So everyone left, tree alone

Only a quiet butterfly came

Sat quietly on its branches

Always left every evening

The tree in the cacophony of

Birds, squirrels and humans

Had never noticed it before

Butterfly now the only one

She sat on his green leaves

Hopped between branches

Sometimes she napped and

Flew to flowers for nectar

With her the tree never felt

Any urge to ever speak out

There was nothing to say

The moments were complete

And months passed in bliss

The tree didn't once speak

Autumn had now passed

Winter slowly made its way

Flowers all disappeared

The starving butterfly

Gave a hug to the tree

And decided to fly away

The tree wished to say

A final goodbye to her

But emotions choked him

Words remained unsaid

Many years passed since

In quiet contemplation

The tree's growls were

Soon forgotten by all

The birds and squirrels

Returned back with joy

Even the milkman went

Chanting - 'Ram, Ram'

But the butterfly never

Came back even once

Everything became normal

The tree never spoke again