In the desert, stunted and stingy hell
On the soil, scorched by the swelter
The upas tree, like a formidable sentinel,
Stands — alone in the whole universe.
Nature of the thirsty water steppes
Gave birth to it on the day of passion,
And the dead greenery of the branches
And the outspread roots soaked with poison.
The poison drips through its rind,
By midday melting from the fervour,
And freezes down in the evening
As thick transparent resin tar.
No bird flies moving to it’s shaft.
Nor the tiger goes, only a black whirlwind
Some times Runs upon that tree of death —
And rushes instantly away already putrid.
And if a rain cloud sprinkles cautious,
Wandering, on its dense leaf incidentally
From its branches, already rain poisonous,
flows quietly into the burning sand heavily.
But potentate man sent retainer man
To the upas tree by a commanding glance,
And he obediently went on his way cap in hand
And returned by morning with poison..
He brought also the deadly resiwn
And a branch with withered leaves,
And ice sweat on his pale phiz
Run slowly ascold slimy stream.
He brought them - and weakened lay down
Under the vault of the hut on his matting,
And the poor slave died at the feet ferocious
Of the invincible ruler just for nothing.
And the king fed with that toxin
His obedient arrows and sharp swordsu
And with them he sent death massive
To his neighbors in foreign world.