MONEY-PLANT: A RAJASTHANI POEM BY SHARDA KRISHNA: ENGLISH TRANSVERSION BY RAJNI CHHABRA

 MONEY -PLANT

Mostly

Every home has

A money-plant in it

But prosperity and bliss of money

Is rarely found anywhere

Everybody does not possess 

Manure and water

The plant growing

With scanty leaves

Creating illusion of flourishment

 Withers away after sometime

Leaves, petals, stem

And even roots

Don't remain green

In the vases, placed in

Balcony of neighbours

Daily new branches spread

Even clipping is not needed

Of pale leaves

These are evergreen

People tell that 

Money plant 

Does not grow by seed

But by a piece of stalk

Is secured from 

Lawns of  others stealthily

Money-plant

But, does money also

Spread and flourish like this

Coin of Rupee and Roti

Both are round in shape

Roti provides satiety to body

And money enhances quench

On dint of wealth only

Rich businessman

Keeps smiling even

During slumber

Relishes favourite meals

To appease his appetite

And enjoy immeasurable intimacy

 Right from advent of

Human civilization

Peasant has been cultivating crops

There is no treasure in his hut

Sparrows, *Kamedhi, anthills, cattle

Birds, animals

Saints and sages, sister, soul-mate

Plougher,  cattle-rearer

On Dev-Diwali, all are co-sharer in joy

When crops are meagre

He puts a check on his hunger

But, he never grows a money-plant

He is familiar with the fact that

Food is a name between

Human-being and hunger

A name of satiety 

A name of language of communication

And of hope of subsistence

Food-crops are grown in fields

Food does not grow on trees

It is unlike money

Grown on money-plant.

* Kamedhi : a singing bird in Rajasthan