In the desert, stunted and stingy hell
On the soil, scorched by the swelterous,
The upas tree, like a formidable sentinel,
Stands — alone in the whole universe.
Nature of the thirsty steppes wrenched
Gave birth to it on the day of passion
And the dead greenery of the branches
The outspread roots it 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 its upper branch,
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 to land
And returned by morning with poison
He brought also the resin of death.
And a branch with withered leaves,
And ice sweat on his pale forehead
Run slowly as cold slimy stream peaked.m
He brought them - and weakened lay down self
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 swords
And with them he sent death massive
To his neighbors in foreign world.