I am a River, I flow by the slope.
I travel through mighty mountains,
cross thick and rich jungles.
I give life to many creatures, small and big.
Now, I am dying.

Birds singing, fish dancing, children playing,
What a beautiful home I was!
Great civilizations flourished in my lap,
What a life-giver I was!
Now I am dying.

I am the holy mother, some say.
I am the abode of gods, some believe.
Celebration or cremation, I am there, always!
But, I look like a monster, smelling of dirt.
Now, I am dying.

I used to nourish green forests by my side.
Now, I see all of my beloved is dying.
I am unable to get rid of the hyacinth.
It is all over me, suffocating everything in me.
Forests nurtured me, I nourished them.
We welcomed every creature, supported every being.
Now we are dying.

I am the Ganga, the Adayar, the Musi,
I am every river you use,
I am every river that carries tonnes of plastic to the seas.
I am every river, that froths because of your ruthless release of effluents.
I am every river that chokes because of your fancy for dams.
I am every river that floods, killing millions, because you encroached my space.
I was once water, that gave life, now, I am a poison that takes lives.
Before you pass by dirty Me, closing your nose, and making that ugly face, Just stop for a minute and look at me.
I AM DYING!