Environment Friendly

Poetry

by

Murli Menon

Copyright © 2019

by Murli Menon

Printed in India on handmade recycled paper.

*Prevent Cruelty to Animals and
Birds

*Plant More Trees

*Be compassionate to all
sentient beings
*Hug Trees
 Contents

1.
2.
3.
4. Cave Meditatio

n.............................................................................................16
5. Sunrise.............................................................................17
6. The Aravalli Hills..........................................................18
7. Sunset..............................................................................19
8. Jawai Lake......................................................................21
9.
10. Serenit

y.............................................................................................24
11. The Vision....................................................................26
12. The Ride........................................................................29
13. The Flight of Fancy....................................................32
14. My Dream House........................................................35
15.

What is love.......................................................................37
16. The Power Love..........................................................39
17. Cry..................................................................................41
18. The Tormentors..........................................................43
19. The Greatest Gift .......................................................45
20. The Wa

y.............................................................................................47
21. Sounds...........................................................................49
22. The Heartbreak...........................................................51
23. Help................................................................................53
24. About the Author.......................................................55

*Prevent Cruelty to Animals and

Birds

*Plant More Trees

 Editorial Report

Murli Menon is clearly a poet of great sensibility, a man of intense

emotion. He has the rare ability to yet turn his gaze outwards and
direct his eloquence to the service of the great good. In these
poems his soul resonates in harmony with the natural world, the
powerful linkage between the inner and outer words between
contemplation and engagement.

To speak of engagement raises the Specter of political poetry.

These are not however political poems in the accepted sense. They
do not explain or promote a cause rather the fundamental
sympathy between the poet's inner life and the environment is
seen in his poetry.

The natural world provides a model of a way of living that is

concerned and alert attuned to one's own feelings, but also open to
the world and aware of its precious vulnerability.

The literary technique is direct more and favors declamatory

sweep and is unafraid of rhetorical effect. The poems have
broadness and strength, repetition of keywords or phrases. is an
excellent structural tool giving his verse force and urgency,
providing a compulsion and unity normally provided by rhyme.

This is a distinguished body of work.

These poems signifies the poet's Journey from the brick walled
world of reality to the world wonderful world of fantasy with wings
spread all Over the horizon. All profits from sales of this anthology
of poems will be used for funding environment awareness
workshops for school principals, teachers and students.

Violet Gusset

Poetry Editor,

London,

United Kingdom.
 Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to my late sister Prasanna, my late mother-

in-law Ashalata Sahu and my late father-in law, Dr.Gangadhar Sahu.

Many thanks to my wife Deepika for being there always and adding
a bit of laughter to my life.

To Chitra, for bringing out the poet in me.

My parents, Ria, Divyam, Priya and Rahul for giving me the freedom
to explore the unknown.

Many thanks to Anahita Ginwala and Tushna Ginwala for giving this
book a new life….

I would like to humbly acknowledge the kind hospitality provided by

Bagheeras Camp near Kambeshwar Mahadev Hill in Pali District of
Rajasthan to help me complete this anthology. Padmaja Singh
Rathore, Darshana (Tina) Singh Rathore and Trivendra Singh
Rathore deserve a special mention alongwith all members of their
team at Bagheeras Camp and Badan Kanwar School of Self-Study.
Bagheera's camp is a wilderness wellness retreat surrounded by
hundreds of acres of forests and encircled by the Aravallis.
 1. SAVE ME

AN AGELESS APPEAL FROM THE

ENVIRONMENT!

I was born several billion years in the past,

I am the EARTH, no mortal can outlast;
Alexander, Napolean, Hitler, I've seen them all,
I am the EARTH, who has seen the mighty fall.
But my arrogance made me feel immortal,
And today I realise, my mistake was fatal;

My ozone layer is nearly over,

And I am now, cowering for cover;
The global warming is making me burn,
And the rising ocean levels are making me drown;
The destruction of forests have made my hairline thin,
And the endless soil erosion has wrinkled my skin;
Poison gases are all I get to breathe,
And one by one, I am loosing all my teeth;
My robust frame has become weak,
And my endless exploitation has made me meek;

As my future looks scary dark,

SAVE ME, SAVE ME... is all I ask.
 2. The Climb

Craggy rocks, sharp stones and gravel,

bruise my tender feet;
on my journey upstream,
to sacred caves;
source of divine waters;
Thorns like hypodermic needles,
pierce my body.
snakes slither across rocks,
like cars winding up hills.
every step is full of bliss,
with divine intuition as my guide;
I reach Kambeshwar Mahadev.

The sound of raindrops,

is music for meditation;
water slips over giant slabs of stone;
forming crystal clear ponds.
A giant Shivling adorns this secluded cove,
as cosmic vibrations continue to flow.
every step of this torturous ascent,
my pathway to spiritual empowerment.

3. Oceans of Tranquility

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Jawai,

guarded jealously by a group of hillocks;
shielded by countless khejri trees,
Bagheeras Camp lies hidden in a canopy of green.

flanked by twin ancient khejri trees,

the three eyed one sits in glory at Kambeshwar Hill;
ancient stones arranged one above the other,
cemented by cosmic forces;
have stood undisturbed over centuries.

Across the Jawai lake,

thick woods beckon nature walks;
friendly treks over gentle slopes,
lead you to this oasis of tranquility.

Breathe the neem scented air at Bagheeras,

meditate silently on grassy knolls;
destress, detoxify, rejuvenate your acheing bones;
discover Bagheera's Camp- the emerald in Rajputana's
crown.
 4. Cave meditation

An ancient temple;
steeped in history mythology and lore,
tucked away in the Aravalli ranges;
on the banks of lapis lazuli waters,
lies Kambeshwar Mahadev - the cave temple.

every stone an antique,

every stone a treasure;
sacred chants and rituals emanate from this shrine,
Holy ash, camphor and vermillion,
its reverence for the Holy One!
giant fishes swim in endless turns,
illuminated in clear blue waters
of Jawai Lake…

Lessons many one can learn,

at Badan Kanwar School of Self-Study ;
where leopards lurk at every turn.
 5. Sunrise

Golden rays steal their way,

blessing the Aravalli peaks;
like flames in an empty cave,
spreading rust to crimson to golden hues.

Birds begin their flowery tunes,

darkness surrenders, light rules.

at dusk Baghera's Camp has a new tale to tell,

the Sun hides like a newly wed bride;
shadows lengthen and crickets sing with pride.

twilight soon gives way to night.

the crescent moon captures the dusky skies;
electric stars play hide and seek,
and Venus shines behind the eastern peaks.
Nights at Bagheera's are pure heavenly bliss!
 6. The Aravalli Hills

Millions of dried medicinal leaves,

migratory birds singing alien melodies;
wild flowers and buzzing bees,
Blue bulls slip invisibly between trees.

The Aravallis are Cosmic Mother's private sanctuary,

leopards and bears are her guardians;

Clear mornings offer hilly views,

nature is bountiful, but to a lucky few.
wild flowers are your tourist guides,
as divinity exists in every stride.

Welcome to the land of golden peaks.

Welcome foreign birds with colourful beaks;
Bagheeras Camp is the tranquiliser,
every city-dweller needs.

7. Sunset

Streaks of saffron dote the skies,

footprints of the solar deity;
departing to unknown heavens.
The Sun-God begins to slip beneath the earth.

Saffron melts, Aqua spreads,

aqua gives way to ebony!
stars announce their glowing presence,
like millions of blue fireflies;
arranged in cosmic designs.

The full moon rises above the treetops,

reflecting borrowed radiance.
The Aravallis begin to sparkle,
as if painted in a patina of molten gold.
by the setting sun.

8. Jawai Lake

Teardrops of our ancient goddess,

Rests in Aravalli Hills;
Spread over the Jawai plains
Placid waters of this mini-ocean;
Lap gently along its byzantine edges,
Gently rocking the tiny boats.

Jawai is truly the Queen of Lakes,

Boating here is meditation for the soul.
Where else do peace and serenity meet?

Nature is merciful and kind,

Sandstorms and rain keep away from Jawai,
And pleasant weather greets you everyday in July!
 9. Sungazing

Silhouettes of rocky peaks,

like giant sculptures abandoned;
appear like ghosts,
on a moonless night.

Skies transform from dark to crimson,

reflecting gold on the peaks;
anticipating Sun-God's chariot.

Streaks of fire light the dawn,

spreading warmth and heat;
savour every precious moment,
of Nature's incessant meditation.
Sunrise over the Aravallis,
touches spiritual chords of your soul;
you never knew existed.

Align your energy with the cosmos,

balance the subtle, gently with the gross;
Recharged body, Rejuvenated soul, Destressed mind,
Bagheeras’ Camp is the ideal place to unwind!
 10. Serenity

A tiny droplet of tranquility,

encased in an oyster of peace;
hidden under rocks of serenity,
buried under oceans of calmness.
lies the home of our cosmic goddess…
An emerald awaits discovery,
Godwad is the gemstone that time forgot!

Clear starlit skies bait astronomers,

like lotuses on village ponds ;
where Venus show her beauty at dusk,
like a silvery comet streaking towards earth;
where Mars glows at dawn,
like a bonfire of a reddish hue;
 11. The vision*

Let me spin a yarn,

the recollection of a long dreamt dream;
let me replace my thoughts,
to those turbulent days of my adolescence.

Reposing on the isolated cot, in my cozy room,

I lie silently letting my thoughts flow;
my ears resounding with the sweet songs,
emanating from those winged crooners.

rocking myself from side to side,

to the tune of the music.
I found myself in another world,
more colorful by far.
it was a land
of Emperors and of princesses,
of knights and of steeds;
of royal battles and of truce.
there I did behold an army,
long and glittering like a rivulet;
that winds in silver splendour,
down the deepest vale.

at the helm was a steed,

blacker than the blackest night;
perched on it was a golden princess,
gorgeously attired and Scepter in hand.

waking up from my slumber,

the vision receded from my mind;
but the sweet The still lingered on,
untouched by the passing years.
years hence, a pretty young maiden,
did gaze up into my eyes;
The realization of this vision is,
indeed sweeter than the vision itself.

*This poem won the "Certificate of Merit" at "All India

Poetry Competition'1993.”
 12.The ride...

I've been loitering again,

over hills and valleys;
of my own creation.

I Wander...
over the blue waters of the ocean,
untouched by storm or gale;
over the swaying palm trees,
which shelter those being winged crooners.

I Wander...
over mangrove swamps,
wherein dwell death in hiding;

over peaks and ridges,

which astound the bravest;
over firs and birches,
which came to reach the stars.

I pass in and out among clouds-the water carriers;

I go close to that cotton ball of flame. So fascinating so
awe-inspiring,
at night, I ride the crescent moon,
from one end of the horizon to the other;

I flirt with the luminous stars,

as a pass them by.

Yet. I am now winged bird,

nor do I possess man-made wings;
I am just a rider,
in the chariot of my dreams.
 13. The flight of fancy

Flight IC 108 is about to take off,

the seat belts are clicked on;
and we are soon flying into the Southwest Monsoon,
as it lashes the Indian coast.

the defending drawn of the airplane,

drowns all the chatter;
and an expected silence preponderance the air,
as a giant bird makes it way towards the skies.

looking out of my minute window,

I see a world more colorful by far;
the skies look like oceans of clouds,
placed one above the other in bizarre designs;
the clouds resemble loads of anhydrous salts.
stretching from one end of the horizon to another
the southwest monsoon clouds
are the heavenly abode of the raingods.

They appear like surf being swept on snowy beaches,

or like billions on of tons of snow;
awaiting release orders from the raingods.

The view reflects the vastness of the world,

the azure blue sky a striking contrast;
to the snow white clouds ,
arranged in all shapes and sizes;
formed when the world was God's kaleidoscope.

The heavenly radiance of the giant rainbow,

glistens onto the glass of the window;
and the myriad of colors look more majestic,
than they ever seemed from the ground.
as we pass the tunnel of clouds,
with a sunrays filtering through the crevices;
it feel like travelling on a giant ship,
in a sea of snow-white waves.

Soon, we descend towards our destination,

the garden city of Bengaluru;
and as the wheels screech to a halt,
we are brought down from our fantasy world to earth.
 14. My Dream House

My dream house, oh so beautiful.

so elegant in its minuteness;
crowning the peak of a hill,
among a multitude of hills.

My dream house, oh so wonderful,

surrounded by a flowery fence;
Bejeweled with a thousand rosebushes,
reflected in the crystal clearness of the pond.

My dream house. Oh, so joyous,

headed by my beloved;
warmed by her love and care,
and blessed by our cherubic kids.
My dream house oh so piteous,
pulled down to a heap of rubble;
by the merciless landslides,
caused by environmental denudation.
 15. What is love ?

Is Love the stone that breaks the shell…

to reveal the beauty of the Pearl within;

or is it the wind that scatters the clouds,

to reveal the snow clap snow-capped mountain;

or is it the Mirage that provide hope of an oasis,

in the midst of the Dune stretching across the Sahara.

or is it the feeling a mother gets,

as she breastfeeds the chair up for the first time;

or is it the pleasure and environmentalist arrives,

when she plants hundreds of saplings;
or is it the foresight a grandfather has,
when he sows seeds;
whose fruits his grandchildren enjoy.

or is it the pain a lover bears,

when his beloved desserts him for another.
 16. The Power of Love

Oh! The Power of love…

that breaks down barriers,
steeped in the oldest of traditions.

Oh! the Power of love…

that brings together people,
so unlikely in body and mind.

Oh! The Power of Love…

That unites Couples,
from two different worlds.

Oh! the Power of love…

that draws for melodies,
from the most unmusical.
Oh! The Power of Love…
that makes poets,
out of the most unpoetic.

Oh! the power…

that helps you hold,
in the hardest of times.

Oh! the power of love…

that has helped me smile,
through my tears.
 17. Cry

Do not let your worries,

blind you to the care of others;
do not take your troubles,
obscure your perception of the world.
cast the tentacles of your mind around,
to think feel and worry about others.

Think with the helpless soldier,

fighting for an unknown cause;
a cause bone out by the ruthlessness of a few.
Cry with the orphaned boy,
orphaned by The madness;
of a bunch of fanatics.
Cry with the homeless destitute,
who have never known the warmth and sweetness;
of home sweet home .
cry with a literate mother,
who know not how to read;
a letter received from her son.

weep for a materialistic world,

where love and kindness;
have been replaced by hatred and spite.
 18. The Tormentors

Lonely and cold in the dinginess of the cave;

fastened tight to a stout pole,
with ropes curled around my feeble body…
like snake splitting venom at their hapless victims;
in mortal fear and writhing pain,
I lay in torturous wait for my tormentors.

not five not fifty, but hundreds of them;

slashing swords and swishing canes,
they arrived in like bees from a hive;
their hearts bursting. with fury,
against their defenceless prey.

left to right, right to left, their hands they moved,

Their whips and canes found their destinations;
upon my fragile body.
blood oozed from my thousand wounds,

They bruised me afresh rejoicing at my pain;

but never a tear did I shed,
facing up to my agony with courage.
Nay it's not folklore nor fantasy,
it's the genuine life of a dumb animal;
tortured by the lashing whips of their masters.
 19. The Greatest Gift

I've been racking my brains, day and night,

querying to myself in wonderment;
what gift will suitably reward your fiftieth birthday.

Shall I get you the bright gleaming crescent moon,

that bakes the night in heavenly radiance;
or the millions and billions of stars,
those minute windows to paradise.

or shall I get you…

the sun that wonderful star,
the sustainer of earthly life;
that scatters its brilliance around,
and spreads heat warmth and Joy.
or shall I get you…
the rainbow the colorful bow of the raingods;
so enchanting to the eyes,

or the mountain streams,

that trickle down in sweet elegance.
what conquest shall I make?
for the one who is so dear to me,
what sacrifice shall I make?
for your fiftieth birthday.

Why search for trivial things?

when you Almighty has already given;
each one of us the greatest gift of all,
and that is Mother Earth!
 20. The Way

Is there a way?
I can convince you,
that I am right and the world is wrong!

Is there any way?

I can tell you,
that I love you and no other!

Is there a way?
I can assure you,
that I am true in the world is not!

is there a way?
I can show you,
that I care for you and not for any other!
Is there a way?
I can prove to you,
that I won't give you up for this whole world!

Is there a way?
I can reveal to you,
that I'm innocent this time, if not any other!
If there is… then do show me the way
on it depends my whole survival.
 21. Sounds

I Sccccrrrreeeeeeaaaaaaam...
when the hacksaw slices through me,
and I fall alongside hundreds of my fellow trees,
lying by my side.

I Waaaaaiiiil...
When the butcher slices of my head,
my blood flowing like water;
my headless body convulsing in the throes of death,
and I end up as mutton curry on your plate.

I Shrieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek...
When the municipality dog catcher sterilized me,
as they get sadistic pleasure watching my agony as they
sterilized me without anesthesia.
I croooooooaak.
When the students dissect me on the laboratory table,
playing with my internal organs like toys;
causing me unbearable pain.

I Moaaaaaaan...
As my ozone layer is completely depleted.
burning my fragile skin;
scalding me like an hot iron,

I Yell
as the global warming melts. the Arctic
making the oceans rise
and killing me by asphyxiation.
 22. The Heartbreak

In the garden of my dreams,

I planted a billion seeds;
I watered them with my blood,
and nurture them with my flesh.
Soon the seeds started sprouting,
into a billion healthy plants;
yielding beauteous blooming flowers,
of a deep reddish hue.

I plucked out the biggest,

and the most beautiful of the flowers;
and entwined a garland,
out of its smooth shiny petals.

Holding the Garland gently in my hand,

I waited the arrival of my dream princess;
hearing the clatter of horse hooves,
I rushed to my garden fence.
but my princess in non-recognition,
and trade mercilessly over my garden;
crushing plans and scattering flowers,
wrecking havoc all around.

Raising my drooping eyelids.

I discerned the figure of the departing rider;
held in the arms of a golden prince.
Stifling a sob… I dropped my garland,
which soon withered away;
and the golden petals too wilted,
dried by the scorching sun.
 23. Help

Money talks...
The money lender is the hawk,
guarding his money with a thousand locks;

Brides burn...
The husband is blinded by greed,
sucking blood out of his wife like a leech;

Gangsters rule…
the politician is the pawn,
and the empty presence in prison cells yawn;

Animals die...
killed mercilessly for their meat and hides,
bearing unbearable torture in their stride;
Birds sing...
of ruthless sadists who cut their wings,
who imprison them in cages and bind them with strings;

Tears flow...
from the eyes of sensitive poets like us,
crying for the animals birds and burnt brides;

In this cruel age,

no soul is by our side;
but the day is near when we poets will sing with pride,
that love peace and non-violence prevails far and wide.
 24. About the author

Murli Menon has been writing poetry since the last forty
years. He's a Merit Certificate winner at All India Poetry
competition'1993 for his poem "The Vision" which is
included in this anthology. His poems have appeared in
various national and international anthologies in USA.
UK and India.
His publications in USA includes ceteris Paribus, Amrita
Poetry Pages, Vogon poetry, Anthology magazine and
Harvard poetry. His publications in UK include Indolink
and Joule Poetry. His poetry publications in India include
"The Asian Age", Mosaic "The Poet", The Young Poet"
and Kavita India. His poems have also been published in
the Blitz Weekly and Femina. Besides this his poems
appeared in leading in-house journals of business
houses and souvenir of the Bangalore Durga Puja
Committee. This is the third edition of this book. Besides
poetry his interests include environment protection and
prevention of cruelty to animals, philosophy and
palmistry. Almost all poems in appearing in this
Anthology have already been published in American
European and Indian online poetry journals. Murli is the
founder of an environment Protection Organization
named PEN (Poets for Environment and Nature" which
is based at Ahmedabad. Murli is also a member of the
Regional Institute of Environment Technology,
Singapore. Murli is an ethical vegan since 1996.
Activities of PEN include environmental education, tree
plantation, environment awareness and prevention of
cruelty to animals. Murli Menon has been writing poetry
since his school days and has travelled to Tibet,
Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos Indonesia and Thailand in the
last thirty years.
Murli conducts residential travel storytelling workshops
on weekends at Bell Guest House, Sayla for small groups
of solo travelers with yoga, meditation and raw vegan
diet. He is the author of three bestselling books, which
includes ZeNLP- the power to succeed, ZeNLP- the
power to relax and ZeNLP- learning through stories. He
is author of two volumes of poetry under the title
"Environment Friendly Poetry". Murli can be contacted
on email at zenlp@rediffmail.com
Instagram: murli.menon.12 WhatsApp:+917436009084
______________________________________________
published by Poets for Environment & Nature (PEN) on
recycled, handmade paper.
Poets for Environment & Nature
E/503, Borsali Apt; Khanpur,
Ahmedabad-380001.

*Prevent Cruelty to Animals and

Birds

*Plant More Trees

*Be compassionate to all

sentient beings
*Hug Trees