Poems by
Babu V V

Tribes

a poem by Babu V V

Forest is our home.
Everything in the forest is our ancestor’s property.
Animals in the forest are our friends.
Bees are our food provider.
Stream in the forest is our artery.
Water in the stream is our blood.

We are not the enemies of the land.
We are not destroying the wealth of the forest.
We are not smuggling the trees as the “gentlemen” do.
We are not killing the animals as the poachers do.
We know they are required to keep the equilibrium of the land.

We are not growing poppy.
We are cultivating for our livelihood.
We are not disturbing the eco-system of the forest.
We are not constructing any palace there.
We are living in tiny huts.

We have no parliament and assemblies.
We have no Ministers, MPs or MLAs.
We have no courts, no judges, and no jails.
We have our own ruler and the judge.
Our ruler is our group head.
We obey his law, the law of the forest.

Please do not interfere in our traditional belief.
Let us live in piece and harmony.