TWO FRIENDS
SUMITRANANDAN PANT
(Translated from Hindi
by Dr. B. N. Prasad)
They are friends;
those two trees
on a solitary mound
standing like comrades
silent and beautiful!
Both
bear lashes of rain
and of the cruel sun
grew together
grew tall
and great!
The fall brought their
leaves down
they are naked now
the boughs are white
and many are intertwined
like the jungle of veins.
Their shadows are
outlined
on the earth
Yes, these friends are
like pictures
on the sky
Look! Look!
They are charming to the
eyes,
those friends.