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Ecology: The Poetry of Nature and Life

Dearest gentle readers,

At first glance, Ecology seemed like a simple poem, but the deeper I read, the more it resonated with me. Written by A.K. Ramanujan, it appeared in his third volume, Second Sight (1986), and beautifully captures a mother’s deep bond with a red champak tree ,a tree that, despite causing her migraines, she refuses to part with.

The narrator, clearly devoted to his mother, would return home irritated after the first monsoon rain because the strong scent of the blooming champak tree triggered her allergies. The fragrance was so intense that even the walls of their house couldn’t block it out. Concerned for her well-being, he decides the tree should be cut down. But his mother immediately refuses. To her, it’s more than just a tree—it’s a part of her history, something she’s lived with for as long as she can remember.

Even though it brings her discomfort, she values it for what it provides—basketfuls of flowers each year, used as offerings to the gods and gifts for her daughters and granddaughters. Strangely enough, the migraines it causes seem to be passed down as well, affecting one particular line of cousins like an unexpected family trait.

The mother’s decision to endure her pain rather than cut down the tree speaks volumes about her strength and attachment to the past. It’s a quiet yet powerful reflection on how deeply people cherish the things that have been with them for years, even if they come with sacrifices.

Some poems stay with you not because of complex language, but because of the emotions they evoke. Ecology is one of those. It’s not just a poem about a tree it’s a reminder of love, resilience, and the quiet ways we hold on to the things that shape our lives. And that’s what makes it so beautiful.

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