Chaubattia Gardens, Ranikhet
By Bhakti Sharma
Leave me alone
In the dense wild jungle,
Let me stand still
Let me watch
Every tree,
Rooted yet free.
The herbs and shrubs,
The myriads of deodars
The unusually tall surai,
The eucalyptus and poplar,
All wearing a green cloak,
With the pines and oak.
The poison ivy overgrown,
The red flower of the rhododendron.
The apple and plums,
The peaches and chestnuts,
The figs and walnuts.
The jungle berries
The fruitless cherries
All in lovely green attire.
Laden with fruits
Only to be admired.
An eerie silence,
Broken by rattling of leaves,
Below my feet.
All around me
Law of Nature enforced in a jungle,
Followed by trees
Obeyed by the beasts
O what an unforgettable treat!
( 10kms from Ranikhet, Uttar Pradesh, India, Chaubatia is full of gardens and commands a fascinating view of the Himalayas. Spread over 265 acres of land, it is one of the largest horticulture gardens in the country.
Bhakti Sharma can be contacted at bhakti_sharma@yahoo.co.uk)