Where has all the Beauty Gone?

I used to live in a village; a small village,

Not far from the city.

There lived children of my age,

In this village bound to nature.

We wandered through the paddy fields,

Listening to the music of the wind,

Singing along with the birds,

Wondering how lucky we are to live in a village of this kind.

We played in the woods hunting for treasures,

And chased the birds pretending we are hunters,

I still remember the small flowers,

Waited to greet us as they danced to the breeze.

I thought this beauty would forever last,

For I was a little girl and unable to understand,

But I was wrong and urbanization was fast,

All the paddy fields, all the beauty; alas was lost in a glance.

Nothing could stop the force for it was strong,

When our elders welcomed it, we knew something was wrong,

Yet no one believed us for we were considered small,

Decisions were taken by those ho were tall.

I no longer know where I live,

For this place isn’t anymore the peaceful village,

But, now in my youth I am able to understand,

That urbanization was the force and it was man with it who destroyed everything.

With me now are only the beautiful memories of my childhood,

In my mind like a beautiful picture,

Nevertheless, some times when I walk on the dusty roads,

I still wonder where has all the beauty gone…