Tsendenshing
Cupressus torolusa, the Bhutanese cypress, makes us proud
As we sing of Druk tsenden in our national anthem aloud;
It is part of many aspects of our lives
And in the dragon kingdom, in harder conditions, it thrives!
At special sacred spots, the trees are giants from walking sticks,
Higher the growth, the more threads of history each tree picks
Dominating social, cultural and spiritual landscapes
Displaying eminence in all directions, magnitude and shapes!
Tsendenshing, Druk tsenden or simply called tsenden, is at the helm
Partaking in nation building with generations overwhelmed;
While it rises high to kiss the sky outshining the pristine nature,
The king of trees is down to earth, forever, in art and architecture!
[It spans lengths with its strength in bridge and dzong construction
And its hardwood is just too good for carvings in artwork production!]
Aroma and incense fill the air with temples often at its bases,
For weary travelers, the trees are landmarks and resting places,
Stories of the tree, in each neighborhood, are entangled in myths
And local sports to watch underneath is what I wish to catch with!
Religion has adopted it, science has admired it,
The resource is non-exhausting, hills and valleys have inspired it;
Of all species of trees, tsendenshing is the most legendary
And in Drukyul, it's cherished by all even the humblest ordinary!
Walnut
Crack or crash a shell
And a walnut has a story to tell!
Soft ones, our normal teeth are strong for that,
Hard nuts often slip while hit on its surface fast!
The oily cashew lies at the cave,
With the bony cover out, it's ready for intake!
So soft and sweet but so much to hide,
Safety-cranium, perhaps, is its pride!
Its fruit is not just what we chase,
Its timber also deserves the praise;
Lustrous and durable though a little knotty,
Its texture merges to become spotty!
Oak
Scattered along the temperate zone
In clusters, pairs or standing alone,
Deciduous and evergreen, both types are found
Keeping houses warm through the year round!
Have you seen its stacks of lumbers?
A reason too for the depleting numbers;
Oak forests are often replaced with pine
And, for biodiversity, this action isn't at all fine!
Ornamental and shady along parks and roadsides
Roots are best, far and deep, preventing landslides;
Keeps the soil in position in all the terrains
As it grows well in both hills and plains!
Sal
Sal trees grow well in the southern belt,
Plentiful once, its scarcity was never felt;
Can be harvested now from private lands,
Sipsoo to Diafarm, the tree stands
Old is gold; its timber with time is wrought;
Its burried parts, against floods, continually fought;
Termites are kept at bay with strength
And being tough, it is admired for endurance!
Sal fibres run in directions both,
Carpenters do not provide their sevices forth;
Rates are higher for the same tools and knives,
The sal has definitely influenced our lives!
Champ
A journey in the forest on my heels
I picked a fallen flower to know how it feels;
Thick petals, yellowish white,
Pollen smeared, scented and bright!
Simply champ, champa or champaka ìt is called
And with the hilly landscape the trees are sprawled!
Our choesam-racks are made for its timber to glow,
Door and window frames are up for the show!
Champ is medium strength, mildly lustrous;
For furniture, chest boxes, pencils and miscellaneous,
Fodder for cattle in this Himalayan part
While its perfume comes from outside to the local mart!
The Himalayan Maple
An indigenous variety is the Himalayan maple,
It thrives in climate suitable too for the apple;
A pair at Trashichhodzong displays its importance,
Cast a glance there, as you pass by, from a distance!
Its wood is good for making dapas to furniture,
It is partially deciduous, green except in winter;
Its autumnal golden hue is a breathtaking view
Beautifying our deep forests distinctly anew!
The Bhutanese maple is unlike the Canadian and the Japanese types
A cousin to dozens more but it hasn't gotten the many hypes!
Known locally as the pchalamshing,
Its worth is forever rising!
Agarwood
An elderly man introduced me to a tree calling it gold,
Resin at its pith, he said, was ruthlessly extracted and sold
Often smuggled, perhaps, to far off lands
Across the borders and away to countries on the desert sands!
Agarwood as the tree is called, my attention it drew,
I heard a bit as my small mind recollected whatever I knew;
Grandfathers talked of adventures of their fathers as they gossiped,
It sounded like a myth for a child while their stories heaped!
In olden days people fell agarwood for its resin sap,
The trees faced the axe over a time without a gap,
So much that some forests were empty of its kind
With only the faint memories of stories lingering behind!
But, not all trees have the resin formed at the pith
Since a type of bacteria has to first act with it;
A ban on its harvest is imposed with a law not so old
As lives battled malaria, in deep forests, for the so-called gold!
Lately, the laws favor its harvest in private lands
But no one knows about its exact markets and demands;
Still, nurseries are selling its saplings more and more
While the number of trees have gone on an upward soar!
If the chase is for the resin sap,
Then, the bacteria must be infested to act!
Anyway, planting for more trees is a welcome deed,
So, gather much merits but cash may not fall at lightning speed!
Teak
Teak! Your timber has proved me all,
You are unscathed despite years of rainfall;
My ceiling still stands against the leak,
Termites, for you, seldom seek,
You respond well to my old electric saw,
I can harvest you, in private lands, under our law!
You are around to be forever felt
Growing wild in the subtropical belt,
Your fragrance seems to tell me more,
Maybe we need to explore,
You are cultivated without much sweating
And worth many years of waiting!
Benefits are utmost: your forest, a good wildlife host,
Hardwood furniture, we get, at a reasonable cost,
You are a quality timber for the floors
Besides being an excellent veneer for doors!
High standard boards appear to be a must
And much more being everywhere, firm and robust!
Like your grains moving all through your length,
I moved many steps of my life with your strength;
Houses look homely and gardens remain soft,
You dominate the landscape as you rise aloft
And in Drukyul, although cypress is our national tree,
You are special as well with your elegance and beauty!
1. choesam : prayer room
2. dapas : wooden bowls
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