Jyoti Lakra, "The Sal Tree Has Fallen" (translated poem; 2019)
From whose blooming
the Sarhul festival was celebrated,
Beneath whose shade the Baiga and Pahan
offered Sarna prayers
and worshipped Lutkum Budhi—
that Sal tree has fallen.
On whose branches
the cuckoo sang at midnight,
Where at dawn crows cawed in chorus,
Where bamboo flutes played haunting tunes
before first light,
Where crickets sang all twenty-four hours—
that Sal tree has fallen.
In whose shelter,
at dusk, flocks of birds
returned from all four directions,
In whose shade forgotten, wandering
cattle rested peacefully through the night—
that Sal tree has fallen.
The heritage of Jharkhandi culture—
that great Sal tree has fallen, Grandfather.
That magnificent Sal tree has fallen.
Now how will you preserve
such a mighty Sal tree, Grandfather?
How will you protect its legacy?
That Sal tree has fallen.
To this majestic Sal tree—
my salutations, salutations, salutations!
Translated from Hindi with assistance of ChatGPT
First published in the Kavi Man Jani Man anthology