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Readings on Indian Literatures

5
Poem

(Other) Worldly Folk Tale

Geet Chaturvedi

ESSAY
Q. How do you relate the themes of the poem with human life?

Geet Chaturvedi is a widely-read Hindi poet. The poem, "(Other) Worldly Folk Tale",
is based on the Buddha doctrine that highlights mind as the only reality. It portrays the
relationship between the earth and the seed like the bond between a mother and a child.
Once upon a time, there was a Seed and an Earth. They loved each other. The Seed
rollicked in the lap of the Earth; it wanted to remain there forever; it did not want to grow.
One day, it rained and the Seed put forth shoots. It rose to a great height. The earth does not
grow in height but spreads out. They both grew apart.
The Tree wishes to become a Seed again. The Earth wishes to take back her blessing.
The Tree is sad that it can never again become that single Seed. The Earth would never be
able to feel the soft touch of that very same Seed. Every single thing in life does not have an
obverse to it. Night is not a dark Day, and Day is not a bright Night.
In fact, the tree has not grown; it has just achieved heights; it is still the very same
seed. The tree is merely Earth’s imagination. All trees grow in imagination. In memory, they
always remain seeds.
The poem relates the relationship between the earth and the seed to the bond between
a mother and a child. The tree's desire to return to the earth’s lap is like a man’s desire to go
back to his childhood. The poet advises the readers not to be intoxicated by the victories in
life.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

email: mbabucr@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu