I knew I was born a wayfarer—
All the time traveling and stayed at nowhere.
When weary of travel and needed rest
I used to find solace under shady trees.
You can trust shady trees.
I am always thankful to the tree
For giving me respite.
About to continue my journey
I would not thank the tree for the shade
Because the shade was not created for me
I used it for a while because it was there.
Some trees called me thankless.
Some wanted to be under them all the time
Thinking we were made for each other.
I laughed and said I never belonged to any one.
‘Thankless brute!’ some called me.
I could care less.
Under certain circumstances and trees
I stayed longer and developed no bond with them.
I was of no use to them perhaps and they were useful to me.
‘For so long you used me and now you leave,
How ungrateful!’ some lamented and complained.
‘My mission is not to be under your shade all my life.
‘I am in search of many things of which I know nothing’.
They could not understand my statement.
I always wanted to leave one shade for another.
Some lush trees lost their leaves and branches
When I was resting under them.
When I told them that I needed them no more
They cursed me. But I left.
A leafless tree is of no use to a traveler.
One tree said, ‘I gave you fruit. Now I understand
You were with me for only my shade’!
I said, ‘O fool it took so long for you to understand this’!
None believed I liked them when I was with them.
‘A dirty time-server!’ they whispered.
‘I am not obliged to you in any way.
I can always find many shady ones like you!
Ha, ha …’ I walked away.
The sapling I planted or thought I did
For the sake of wayfarers like me
Thought I belonged to it.
It failed to understand no one belonged to anyone.
When nursing, it started telling me
That I should not rest under this tree or that.
I should be under its shade only.
How foolish!
The last tree thought that it was too young
For an old man like me.
But I rested there too
When I found it was hot under the tree I left.
The tree thought that it made me go.
No one moves anything.
And things move.