The Royal Delonix

By Avni Patel

I was born long ago,

Was new in the world but clever though.

My tender self was taken care,

By a gardener who was working there.

Neighboring plant was a young Mango Tree,

Whose leaves were all a total of three.

With daily small talks our friendship prospered,

He called me Noah, I called him Edward.

Around a school playground our roots nurtured,

Seeing the children play our souls treasured.

When we grew high like towers,

We already had started yielding fruits and flowers.

It was a cherry on top,

When our trunks were painted by colors that pop.

Utilizing my shade to relax,

A bench under my shadow perhaps?

Sitting on the bench was their favorite spot,

Protected them from the days so hot.

They mounted on Edward,for mangoes to pluck,

Climbed on me to get the kites that got stuck.

Out of my flower sepals, they made fun nails,

Hide and seek behind my trunk,girls with little ponytails.

A man wearing a belt of tools inspected me today,

They plan to get rid of me this saturday.

Am I an obstacle to something they want?

Or is it my old age they daunt?

Do the children not love me anymore?

Or am I being replaced by a new tree, they would now adore?

I've seen new faces every single year,

Didn't know where time did disappear.

I'd miss tickling children on faces through my leaves,

I'm just a tree who's absence none grieves.

The exchange of smiles, the chuckling children,

Where would I again find such life, I was as a boon,given?

By Avni Patel