Runa Srivastava

In Silent Protest

I protest in silence,  
In colors nature bestowed:  
Mountains rise, hills embrace,  
Verdant terrains, rivers that flow,  
Seas of azure, oceans vast,  
The sun, the moon, stars aglow.  
Sunrise, sunset, the dance of day,  
Silver, gold, and rust’s warm hues,  
Purples, pinks, and fiery reds—  
In my hair, I weave a gift,  
A crown of blooms, nature's muse.  
What a wondrous world this is.

Yet do we honor what we've received?  
No, we chase a hollow progress,  
Ignoring the forests, the ancient woods—  
Trees felled on steep terrains,  
Landslides loom, avalanches await,  
Global boiling melts the ice,  
Floods swallow the land,  
Pollution taints our waters,  
Marine life fades in silence,  
Forests cleared for fleeting gain.  
The list is endless, a mournful refrain.

Thus I protest in nature’s hues,  
Awake! Aridity and desolation  
Have already struck.

Without You, I Would Not Be Here

How can one forget the ever-generous universe,  
When evidence of its bounty lies before us?  
The sun never ceases to shine,  
The birds persist in their joyous songs,  
The brook babbles over rugged terrain,  
And flowers continue to bloom—  
We see, we acknowledge, and we are blessed.

Rivers journey relentlessly to embrace the oceans,  
Beautifying every land they touch—  
Hills, meadows, valleys,  
So much beauty for us to cherish,  
To be an integral part of.  
We feel it: love surrounds us.

The creatures, the birds,  
Living among us, sharing our world,  
Balancing the delicate ecosystem.  
Fish and mammals dwell in the sea,  
Corals and oysters mark the signs  
That the universe works tirelessly to keep us joyful.

The universe grants us night,  
A sky adorned with diamonds,  
A grand moonstone casting silvery light,  
Guiding us so we are never lost.  
How can we forget? Love is everywhere.

It’s impossible not to embrace this love  
And give thanks endlessly.  
The universe gives and gives,  
Regardless of our shortcomings.  
Gratitude should be our guiding principle,  
Thankful always for the abundance around us.

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