Gentle tributary
of a hill-born river
suburban lake caressed
acres of fertile land -
paddy rich, growing fields
Schools of fish raced at depths
water-birds, herons, egrets,
warblers, mynas, pipits,
swallows, shikra, barbets, owls
Bowl that held varied lives
The surrounding city
rapidly scales cloud- heights, as
skilled strategists, land grabbers,
investors, policymakers,
now take her on a ride
The silenced birds, once family
to the lively-living lake,
their provider, now watch
from a mile, her being led
like a lamb to the slaughter
chemical sewers, toxic algae
rotting froth, foam, fumes engulf
volatile, fire-prone, wasted,
water body stands scrapped
A stilled lake, beyond repair
Categories:
pipits, environment,
Form: Free verse
A Child's Face
Imbetween the then and now
I dream what my eyes allow,
Pipits singing on the wing,
Snippets of a wondrous thing.
Absurd absurd, ridiculous at best,
I heard a river flowing west,
Lapping shores in the sky,
Tapping flaws in my minds eye.
Floating high above my bed
Noting I had a different head,
A child's face with a vultures bill
In a wild place, peacefully still.
Like starving monks with hacking feet
Carving chunks of sapling meat,
Screaming, violent, mist and billow
Dreaming silent on my pillow.
I'm gazing at the old and new,
Time phasing in and out of view,
Past foes and present friends
Casting woes as my future ends.
Burning trees and falling rocks,
Turning keys in rusty locks,
Only spaces behind the door,
Lonely faces smile no more.
Wandering sky over browning leaves
Pondering why my breast still heaves,
Curled, glowing in my tiny pocket
A world growing in a shiny locket.
But when I tasted insecticide
On the beautiful flowers pasted inside
I realised only dreams are to keep
So I closed my eyes and went to sleep.
Categories:
pipits, feelings,
Form: Rhyme