Tree -Two Poems by Jane Hirshfield and Ravi Kopra

It is foolish
to plant a banyan tree
near your house.

Its roots will grow under,
its branches take over the roof.

You have a choice in your life -
Among your books, pots and pans,
your beloved, children and pets
to live life sanely
or be Buddha like ruminating
under the banyan tree.

-Ravi Kopra

tuseeN paagal o
jay aapnay ghar kol
ik bargad da peR lagaanday o

is diaaN jaRRaN ghar haithaaN
tay tehiaaN chat utay aa jasan

socho zindgi kiwaiN guzaarni nay -
kitabban paR akalmand ho k
bachiaaN beewee naal reh k
khana-pani kha-pi k
ya ik Buddha bun k
bargad de peR haithaaN
baithiaN sochdiaN sochdiaN.

****

Tree
by Jane Hirshfield

It is foolish
to let a young redwood
grow next to a house.

Even in this
one lifetime,
you will have to choose.

That great calm being,
this clutter of soup pots and books –

Already the first branch-tips brush at the window.
Softly, calmly, immensity taps at your life.