We undertake, we exploit
We extract from this earth
Its waters, its minerals, treasures
What do we give back
Do we ever ponder

Does the earth belong to us
Or do we belong to this earth
The sun, the moon, the stars
The galaxies
The entire universe

We buy and own lands
But can we ever own
The sweetness of this earth
The gurgling of the streams
The singing of the birds

The air which we breathe
The freshness of the leaves
The fragrance of the flowers
The liberation of dawn
The solitude of dusk

What right do we have then
To debase and to defile
What we do not own
What we have inherited as legacy
With only temporary tenancy

Do we ever pause
Do we ever contemplate
What we shall be leaving behind
For the next generation to savour
And to ponder

Subir Chakraborty / 19th Oct 2018