by Anjitha A.
“Yes, I know trees.
To be honest I love trees.
You know, back when we were not chasing money,
We had green green trees.
Now we chase money trees.
We picked axes and cut the branches: one, two, three…
Oh no. I lost count of this ‘one, tw-’”
“I thought you have never seen them, trees!”
“Back then we had swings on our mango trees,
Now we have money trees.
We in the blinding shades,
Picking pennies all day: one, two, three…”
“Real trees? Don’t lie Green Eyes. Green trees?”
“Back then I dreamed of growing many many trees,
Mango, jack fruit, coconut, pink jamba trees.
Now that looking back I see we only sow one tree.
Money trees on farms, money trees in gardens,
Money trees all under the blue blue skies!”
Summary:
The poem takes place in a future capitalist land where two workers are talking about trees while counting their money. The younger one can not comprehend the fact that the older man has been around trees. To him, trees are very exotic.
About the Author:
Anjitha A is a postgraduate in English language and literature. She was a rank holder in her subject and is very interested in writing creative pieces. She has published my poem “What It’s Likes to be a Woman” in the anthology Embracing the Feminine: Celebrating Womanhood in Verse after receiving an A grade in a competition conducted by AIFEST in which 1938 poets from 69 countries participated.
Her Malayalam short story “Naleyude Chuvappu” got published in the anthology Kumkumappottinte Kadalazhangal by Vima Publishers, after the same getting selected in a competition in which almost 200 Malayalam works were submitted. Her poem “Memories” was also published in the college magazine of Sri C Achutha Menon Government College which is also titled Memories following the same getting shortlisted in their international poetry writing competition.
Anjitha A has also won prizes in few other writing competitions such as the LitPrints—Literary Adaptation Contest conducted by St. Aloysius College, Elthuruth, in which her short story “Starry Night” received the 3rd prize from creative works submitted from various parts of India.
Literary Latitude 