Chinar: Kashmir's Timeless Treasure

Standing tall and sturdy,
The Chinar is a 340-year-old beauty!
Looking up, I marvelled at its tenacity.
It is mighty, yet humble.

Having seen life and death,
Good and bad times,
Love and hatred,
Smiles and tears,
Romance and heartbreaks,
War and peace,
Drought and flood,
Sunshine and snowfall,
The rise and fall of empires,
It stands with a stoic silence.
To me, it seemed like a wise sage
Who has witnessed everything.

Standing under its benevolent shade,
Some uttered truths,
While others plotted schemes.
It heard the prayers of the hopeful
And the confessions of the repentant.
It sheltered both the king and the pauper.

It saw new life bloom and old life fade;
It met people of all ages and from faraway lands;
And, I met it too!

Spreading my arms, I felt its girth,
Wishing for its resilience.
With one last glance, I said, “Live for 300 more years. And I know, you will!”

As if it heard me loud and clear,
It ruffled its shimmering leaves.
When it was time to depart,
An inexplicable feeling pervaded my heart.

- Krishikaa Sankar

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