Pyari Tuti, "Environment" (translated poem; 2019)
O Mountain God,
O River Mother,
O Forest King—
The mountains have crumbled,
The river has dried,
The forests have been cut down.
Whom shall I worship?
From whom shall I quench my thirst?
Whom shall I serve?
I once sheltered behind the mountain,
Played in the river’s stream,
Was nurtured by the fruits of the forest.
But now the wind has changed direction,
The river’s current has eroded,
The forest has become desolate.
I am orphaned.
I am left thirsty.
I remain hungry.
Poem translated from Hindi with the assistance of ChatGPT
Originally published in Kavi Man Jani Man anthology (2019)