Cashew Trees. Poem by Gangadharan nair Pulingat..

Cashew nut trees fast vanishing
From the plantations of Kerala
Cashew nuts that gave so much support
To the people, by money, and labor
Cashew trees cut and removed
For plantation of rubber trees.

Sad to see the plight of cashew trees
Once gave shades, and cashew fruits
In varieties of color and fragrance
Yellow, Red, and rose colors
The poor man's apple it was treated.

Cashew fruits highly nourishing, nutritious
Unfortunate, the trees are neglected
The people in such ingratitude
Once saved their starvation by its yielding
But now in neglect and removal.

Cashew trees the great friendship in kitchen
Used as fire wood in common man's kitchen
Which now changed into liquid petroleum gas
The development of living conditions favored.

Cashew trees pedestrian's friend in olden days
When they were in their walking distances
The shades of cashew trees saved them
From the sun burns of excruciating sun heat
Ingratitude we follows every where.

Cashew nuts of Kerala varieties
Highly standard quality and money it gives
But only a seasonal crop, requiring manual labor
People's reluctance to plant new saplings.

Cashew trees wonderful everlasting friend
Saves the earth from erosion of top soil
Highly recharges the water to the earth
And also the makes the soil fertile by the leaves
Cashew trees a great friend for Kerala families
Save the crop from further destruction
By planting new saplings where ever possible.