As part of the celebrations for environmental awareness tomorrow an environmental association had announced essay, poem & painting competitions with a title for each. Here is my entry:

Environment of today’s Madurai and tomorrow’s Madurai which I like

Our Madurai, a gem among cities ancient,
Shaped uniquely like a lotus magnificent,
Sung in epics and sangam literature,
Rich in refined and lofty culture
Retains its original style, flavour and face;
Resists the shocking ultramodern global pace,
Never stopped growing grander, brighter, broader
A steady expansion sees our beloved city’s border;
Wooded surroundings of buildings survived changes
Of rulers and reigns, always cherished down the ages.

Small and old parks interspersed in our dear city
With proper care may render health and beauty-
Lungs of the buzzing city in reality
Make chances of pure air available plenty;
Now in Madurai like a lovely dazzling damsel
One exemplary Eco Park doth in green grace excel,
A lot more good and joy may come here to dwell
If other parts of the city get a similar one as well.

Bright, bushy, flowery medians may
Cheer everyone commuting either way
On roads branching out like green arms
From the gracefully growing city of charms,
A real feast shall they be to the eye
While to vehicular pollution saying bye
Let them hold bouquets of warm welcome-
Smiles of hospitality, fresh and winsome.

Our good old king Asoka shall we copy
And on highways create a green canopy.
Lush lotus and lily ponds are for apartments gone,
Grow huge, shady trees in their common areas to atone!
Find ways to propagate the message and the seeds
Making us Maduraites aware of our green needs!
When we gift someone a bouquet of flowers
After a few hours the bright beauty withers;
If we present a sapling with pleasure
It shall grow into a lifetime treasure.

Out of small seeds do mighty oaks grow-
In small kids’ minds green ideas let us sow.
May this urgent message all quarters reach
And let us practice what we here preach!
To create an Eden shall we dream and dare
And watch it materialize with our tender care!
Plant shall we a cool, green tomorrow
And wisely avoid unwanted sorrow.

Strongly shall we say ‘no’ to non-degradable waste,
Hence shall we surely ethereal pleasures taste.
No more scattered litter be found anywhere,
Each citizen be ever on toes to fulfil his share
Of keeping our own city clean and green.
As a real paradise will it soon be seen,
Enviable name and fame shall be ours-
United we stand to prove our powers.
Our tireless greening efforts shall not stop
Till our proud city reaches the list’s top.


(The results of the competitions are awaited).