The Dark Birds

a poem by Ramesh T A

Often flying close overhead and far off
A crow disturbs my privacy on the terrace,
While I walk in the open air in the evening.
What unusual sight has it noticed in the usual routine
As not to allow me to go ahead with my blessed mood
Of communing myself with nature to make my mind fresher?
Why is it perturbing me in this pleasant evening?

Yea! I have got the point of this bird!
O Hard working scavenger bird! Well, I am not foe to you!
I know what a crippled right leg means to a crow like you;
So, go away and come tomorrow for your food!
Like a war plane it splashes down again over me
And flies away with the flock of its own feather!
This disturbance of love is too much to meet out certain times;
But it has to get its honour among its ridiculous birds
And that’s why this crippled crow braves like Byron among its crew!
So, three cheers to you wherever you fly and live!

Some other musical bird now moves my heart!
Know not what the name of this bird is!!
This black and white bird I know only recently;
Robin magpie or wag tail? Between the two it must be!
Yes, it wags its tail when sings and so, it’s wag tail bird!
O Wag tail bird! Your ‘twing twang’ notes sound like the arrows of Robin Hood!
So sharp and clear, yet so sweet and beautiful to hear!

A pool of water after a shower of rain lay on the top of the concrete shade,
Where down fly crows and pigeons to have a jolly bath
And the wag tail bird beautifully blows musical notes
For the birds to swim freely for a free flight later!

O My Mynah! The coffee brown bird comes now,
Whose orange yellow beak, eye lash and feet are bright for everyone to note!
And the coffee brown Mynah too wants to take bath after a long flight!
“Quick, quick!” the Mynah calls others in single sharp note;
“Where are you? Where are you?” again calls he his companions;
There come his companions from nowhere to bathe there;
“Hurry up, hurry up!” one again he commands his crew;
And they fly to far away place before the night pursues them.
The night comes after the twilight and engulfs everywhere with silence!
And there ends my muse and move I to mind my other matters.