Shriveled Flower or Murjhaye Pushp is a beautiful poem where the great Hindi language poet Mahadevi Varma talks some hard truths about life when talking about a beautiful flower! Truths that have been often told by men and women of wisdom, yet the lessons are oft-forgotten especially when we are at the peak of our beauty and strength.
The original poem is in Hindi and is presented here as-is for those who can read the language. For the rest, please jump on to my feeble attempt at an English translation.