Lifeline

by Dr. Jaipal Singh



I am a commoner yet so familiar To all living forms as well as humans Have no colour, no taste and no smell Yet I am indispensable to sundry and all For planet earth's survival I am vital Reverse is equally true for my survival. To understand my real value and worth You can inquire from a tired traveller Traversing a distance in the hot summer You can ask from any deprived and poor Who are often awake for nights together To get up early to fetch me drop by drop In earthen pots and often used containers To further assure you can ask from people Those who live in vast desert and deep hills And are walking daily for miles together With an empty bucket to quench their thirst. Like many plants and animal forms on this planet My survival too is really endangered, through Indiscriminate extraction and misuse by humans Indiscreet dumping of pollutant and toxic wastes I am getting dangerously reduced from the surface As also down below in earthen layers and crevices. And who is really responsible for this plight? I am told humans are masters - intelligent and wise While they should be saving and conserving me They are the ones exploiting and depleting me May I appeal them to awake and act to conserve True to their thought, words and deed to save me. Look in all life forms I remain a major partner In humans too about seventy percent stakeholder So why can't we live in harmony and peace together When I am their lifeline, you now know I'm WATER...!

Image © Getty Images

29-Apr-2012

More By : Dr. Jaipal Singh

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Comments on this Poem

Dear Jaipal Ji,

The pleasure is all mine to receive such a wonderful poem from you on the priceless treasure - WATER

alwaysaparna
29-Apr-2012 15:46 PM

Potable water is a topical issue in many places, particularly large urban conglomerations. Thanks, Aparna Ji, for the day's honour and beautiful picture.

jairathore
29-Apr-2012 12:53 PM