The Hail Storm

O Christmas Tree!

The Nest

The tiny bit of greenery that flanks our house offers many joyful sights with its diverse bird species and occasional visits from monkeys. The lockdown gave us ample time and opportunity to indulge in nature watching and bird watching. It was also an opportunity that gave an insight into the behavior of the feathered beauties.

Eagle's aerie before the the eggs were hatched.....after the eggs were hatched.....

One day while birdwatching, I could spot an aerie on a tall tree far away. I could get a peek into the abode through the camera. As the eggs were about to hatch we found the nest remodeled with strips of white plastic sheets which provided a good camouflage to its eaglets. Watching the birds and its activities were a great pleasure.

Bulbul hatchlings Bulbuls, the tiny, black crested birds are aplenty in this area. We were amused when two birds were seen regularly in the evening, perched on top of TV dish as if they are watching children play badminton on terrace. Those birds were seen flying in an out of the Ashoka tree branches in front of the house. It was not a surprise when we located its nest with two nestling in it.

Pigeon in its nest Another Ashoka tree next to it houses a pigeon’s nest. It seems to be a permanent one as the bird was seen many times earlier. The bird is not lucky always as the roaming cats gobble the eggs now and then.

Selecting the proper spot.

Nest under construction, later with the hatchling

Above all these stands the hanging nest of the purple-rumped sunbird built on our clothing line on the terrace. We wondered what prompted this tiny bird to select a place where we hang our clothes daily and do morning and evening walks. It was not bothered about our presence on the terrace and was busy building the nest. Seeing its confidence in us, we decided to leave the chosen clothing line free for its nest and dismantled our hanging chair as it shook the line on swaying. Till the eggs were hatched we were careful not to disturb it. Nature has many amusements if we are ready to observe it closely and preserve it with care.

Lockdown Blues

Lockdown and broken down,
In distress to de-stress,
Turned to the media, got lured by an idea,
Resorted to cuisine, but forgot the calories,
You miss the hikes and mass spikes,
Now... like the world you scurry,
For ways to flatten the new curves,
And to be the bygone busy bee...

LOCKDOWN

                            

Covid, the morbid, locked the world down,

Lo! Excited, we the helpless, celebrated the lockdown,

Alas! Is there no end to this count down?

For fear stalks along , despair creeps around ,

As the numbers leap and bound,

God alone knows what’s going around,

In Him we trust, to Him we pray,

Searching for hope’s ray,

Seeking deliverance, following his way,

As the virus waits to pounce upon us,

God save us, have  mercy upon us!

EASTER (2020)

   He has risen, He reigns

                  And

The world is on its knees

Weeping and praying for a miracle

Tsunamic losses cast waves of despair

Heart rending supplications dart to heaven

Pleading for mercy from the creator

Let’s hope for the best very soon this Easter.

A Strange Love

Rain, you come down pouring,

When kids run out roaring,

You pat them, tickle them and splash on them

With cool arms extended you play with them

They laugh and run into your arms and back to shelter

The mirth of the innocent is worth watching

Rain knows the time when schools get over

The elders rant in dismay as you pour over

But, rain loves kids and kids love rain

A strange kind of love!

Monsoon Delayed!

                                                               I hear the cry,
                                                               In mornings dry,
                                                               Near my kitchen,
                                                               Piercing into my ears,
                                                               I care not to listen,
                                                               As I've to hasten,

A Hornbill at our backyard

                                                                  Till one day,
                                                                  It rattled my home,
                                                                  I step out to probe,
                                                                  Nestled on a tree,
                                                                  The hornbill wails,
                                                                  Rain, where art thou?

Two days back I spotted the grey Indian hornbill at my back yard. As a child I had heard of stories and songs about this bird waiting for rain as it cannot drink water. They open their mouth to the rain and quench thirst. I lived in a very beautiful village in Kerala before coming to the city after marriage. All those years I never spotted a hornbill at my childhood home. It was a pleasure seeing this bird at the backyard where the migratory birds and other varieties flock. I did a research on this bird and found out that it never drinks water. Here, the monsoon is delayed and along with the hornbill we too are waiting desperately for rain.


                             

You Make Me Cry

             

                                                Cannot think of a day without you,

                                                The flavor you add to my life,

                                                You pep up my days,

                                                Day by day you grew dear to me

                                               And anon! you became precious to me

                                               I dread the day I have to part with you

                                               My eyes well up on the thought,

                                              About that day without you,

                                              Onion, now you really make me cry!

This was written when onion price was shooting up and people were forced to use less of it.

                      

FEAR

                                         
Try running away from your fears
and you will find it along with you
stalking you all the way
Turn around and face it
You will not find a trace of it

Tainted Brook

Across the black water brook,

Along the low lying bridge,

As it flows I trudge,

Is it babble or wail?
I hear as I trail

About the clear stream

That it was in its glorious past.

Had it got tongue,

Words would have been etched with pain,

In ink of tears!

(The pic above is a character in Kathakali, usually representing melancholy.) 

A Dance

           

                                         I see the trees gyrating,

                                         Butterflies fluttering

                                         Oh… it is the wind,

                                         Giving them the rhythm

                                         Making them dance to its tunes, 

       

                                         Mighty one, with forces twelve,

                                         Be gentle like this forever,

                                         Do not turn into a monster ever

Dew Drops to Tear Drops

                                    Dew drops of blessings so pure, pristine

                            Cooling, soothing, comforting

                            You are the bearers of life                  

                             You are the pillars of life

                             Yet you are scorned, neglected

                             Punished to wane away as tear drops

                                                                
       An ode to girl children motivated by some newspaper reports

                                        

                     

Just For Fun

An intrepid soldier steps forward

The rival heeds the clarion call

The dark knight jumps over all

The rest gears up, ready to act

Warriors move across the checks

No parleys, no bloodshed

No mortal combat, no trumpet

It’s a war zone full of fun and fuss

After all it is a game of chess!

A Chance Meeting

It was bright and sunny day

Special as it was my b’day

Working at my desk I sensed,

A glance fall upon me

True… as I turned sideway

Spotted a primate on the door way

Clutching on the rails staring

Motionless and curious

Worried… I dashed to the door

Harried… it charged on its four

Twain feeling jubilant

Being safe from each other

Bees Attack

Bees bees and more bees

My home is under a stinging siege

Perched atop a nearby tree

Thrives a majestic golden hive

One, two, three, four, five..

Here comes my li’l one

Trying to analyze the swarm strength

Displaying his newly acquired skills

Hark… there is a flap on the tree

Lo! There hovers an eagle fierce

Its claws mercilessly on the grist pierce

Poking and pricking and pecking

Tapering the mighty to ruins