Rain-tree <br /> <br />The rain-tree is of cassia family - <br />Like an elephant it stands on the road, clothed <br />With thick green foliage, dark against the sky <br />All along the Bandra-Kurla road in Mumbai. <br /> <br />You have to exert a little and see <br />Over the top to see the nazuna-type <br />Of pink flowers sitting above the foliage <br />In plentiful numbers, with up-thrust pink hairs. <br /> <br />Unlike the African tulip in front of ONGC <br />At Bandra Flyover visible from the distance, <br />Here the pink and green does not show off <br />As rain-tree flowers don’t advertise themselves. <br /> <br />Unlike copper-pod’s bright yellow flowers <br />The rain tree flowers don’t weave a carpet: <br />I’ve never seen the flowers on the ground below <br />Nor do they wither on the tree, how I wonder! <br /> <br />In monsoon rains, the leaves shine specially, <br />Transparent drops falling on walkers below, <br />Or with a thud on the racing car bonnets too, <br />Some choose to fall on road to rise a bit upwards. <br /> <br />I have not understood why it is called rain-tree: <br />Are they attracted, peacock-like, to the rain-clouds, <br />Or does the rain-bird which drinks water straight from heavens <br />Prefer this tree, and inspire Kalidasa to write Meghdoot?<br /><br />Daniel Trevelyn Joseph<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/rain-tree/
