Satpura's Dense Forests

Translation of the verses written by Bhawani Prasad Mishra, an Indian, award-winning poet and author and describes the forests of Satpura, A range of hills stretching through the Indian states of Gujrat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh.

THE POEM IS QUITE LONG SO READ IT AT YOUR PERIL or LEISURE

Satpura's Dense Forests...

Somnolent...Dozy...Banal...Forests...

Trees high & low...Standing soundless...Eyes closed...Silent is the grass...Silent is the Kaas...Mute is the Shal...Quiet is the Palash...

Plunge deep in them...If you will...Through which even breeze cannot make her way..Satpura's Dense Forests...Somnolent...Dozy....Banal...Forests...

Decaying leaves...Rotting leaves...Green leaves...Charred leaves...Sheathing the woody path... Muddy...Mossy leaves...Tread over them...If you can...Trample upon them...If you can...These revolting dense forests...Somnolent...Dozy...Banal...Forests...

Muddled entwined vines...Drag down branches & twigs..Seizing hold of one's leg suddenly...Constricting one's life in their body...Serpentine black vines...Tiresome...Irksome...Annoying vines...Shaped out of the vines...These Forests...Somnolent...Dozy....Banal...Forests...

Spider webs on the face...And...The hair of head on the face...Blackish pimples...From mosquito stings...On reddish face...Keep going on...Braving the gale & storm...Enduring the hardships chancing upon...Replete with suffering...These Forests...Somnolent...Dozy....Banal...Forests...

Full of pythons...These Forests...Out of reach...Beyond speed...These Forests...Encompassed by seven hills...Enclosed with big small bushes...Of Lions...Of tigers...Of Thunders...Of roars...Trembling from tremors...These Forests...Somnolent...Dozy....Banal...Forests...

Deep inside these Forests...In the midest of the cloistered woods...In the straw huts...Live the dark & strong...Carefree Gond people...When Holi is close...The rustling grass croons...And...An intoxicating scent from Mahua emanates...Their drums echo the tune of...Their songs...Their lyrics...Satpura's Dense Forests...Somnolent...Dozy...Banal...Forests...

Yawning...Stretching...They arise... In the Hollows...Trenches...Ravines...Grass mad...Kaas mad...Shaal and Palash mad...Vines crazed...Winds crazed...Twigs crazed...Leaves crazed...Chicks and pheasants tipsy...Deep inside these forests...

Outstretched till horizon...Soiled till expiration...Can you recognize an ocean? Of furious black waves...Of churned up...pushed up...Poisons...Of Meru...Of Shesh...Of Shambhu & Suresh...How do you regard it? Right like it...Are...Satpura's Dense Forests...Somnolent...Dozy...Banal...Forests...

Plunge deep into them...Nothing to be afraid of...They are not houses of death...Embraced by these forests...Several Rivers...The Cascades...Brooks...drop & trickle away...Reciting old new tales...

A million birds...A hundred deer herds... So many moonbeams...Swaying wild blooms...Flourishing unrevealed buds...Lush green turfs...burgeoning lineage...Blessed...Sacred...Perfectly aesthetic...Are...Satpura's Dense Forests...Shaped out of the vines...These Forests...

Word meaning:

Kaas_ Saccharum Spontaneum

Shal_Shorea Robusta

Palash_Butea Monosperma

Gond_A tribe, native to India

Holi_Indian Festival of colours

Mahua_Butter Tree 

Meru_ Mountain, the abode of god (Hindu mythology)

Shesh_Remainder, End, A snake that remained in the end when the world ended(Hindu mythology)

Shambhu_Lord Shiva, Source of bliss Hindu mythology)

Suresh_Sun, Lord Vishnu(Hindu mythology)