(a poem in 2 Senryus)

We carefully choose
bits of our lives that we then
weave into stories.

Like birds building nests,
making the safe places that
keep and define us.

The birds are cozy.
In their nests and in the trees.
A glorious Day!

The trees pressed to the earth,
Express mirth,
To seasons worth.
Their foliage,changing colours,
A palette for an artist's valour.
Heat,rain and snow,
Through it all,they simply grow.
Their fruits I love to eat,
Under their shade,to rest I sit,
Upon one of them,I build a tree house for my son,
To play and have fun.
High and low on the trees,
Birds' nests I see,
According to their kind,
Beautifully designed.
I breathe their oxygen,
Through my lungs it courses on.
I drink their rain,
Live on their grain,
For them I should give a hand,
To save them on this land.

The tree
tall and wide
with thick canopies
with so much of life and music

The tree
with thick branches
with thick green leaves ..
with nests and birds of various flocks
with so much life and music

The tree
with thick shadows
with cool underneath
with the travellors and children
playing and resting underneath
with so much life and music

The tree
swaying and singing
safe haven for little birds and insects
a whole eco system of innumerable species
with so much life and music.

The cyclone
with brutal force and might
destroying everything in their sight
devastating homes and trees and transformers

The tree
with its limbs/branches broken off
the cracking of branches and
with nests flown away and birds as refugees
the life and music transforming to an eerie silence.

Months pass by
Small shoots from the half broken branches
Rising and twisting up..
with the birds once again flocking to the tree
with life and music again..

It stood completely dried
Burnt by the fire below
Lit by some stupid inhuman man
of the remains of the waste generated by him.

It stood so tall and might
Housing innumerable nests and birds
Cheered by the chirping of the little birds
Calm and strong protecting them like a father.

It stood so tall and might
Giving shade to those who toil and tire
in the fields surrounding
Giving them a space to nap a bit during their breaks.

It stood tall and might
Giving fruits and flowers
to the young kids who passed by
Who climbed and caressed by clinging to its branches..

It stood tall and might
Loving all, protecting all
Irrespective of being friend or foe
Offering twigs and firewood to women and poor..

It stood tall and might
Protecting from the rains and the sun
from the cyclones and dust storms
From floods and droughts...

It stood tall and might
Protecting so many young plants around
Grass and herbs,
Creepers and climbers alike like a mother would do to her kids.

But...today....

It stood completely dried
Burnt by the fire below
Lit by some stupid inhuman man
of the remains of the waste generated by him.

It still stood tall
with its completely dried golden leaves
A few more days or weeks it may stand
Before the termites and insects
would make it fall down
and along with it, years of memories it brightened up
All through its life ...

The lapping waves
Knock around moonlight:
Coalesce, ripple;

Kestrels in their nests,
Reflected faces; bodies still ring
-ing

Lazy summer afternoon,
Screened in porch and nothin' to do,
I just kicked off my tennis shoe.
Slouchin' in a plastic chair,
Rakin' my fingers through my hair.
I close my eyes and I leave them there,
And I yawn, and sigh, and slowly fade away

Awakened by a familiar sound,
A clumsy fly is buzzin' around,
He bumps the screen and he tumbles down.
He gathers about his wits and pride,
And tries again for the hundredth time,  
'Cause freedom calls from the other side,
And I smile and nod, and slowly drift away

Another sound chimes through my ear,
A robin singing with his peer,
A simple song that just so dear.
They find a tree so they can rest,
And then begin to build a nest,
One to suit their babies best.
And I grin in awe and slowly drift away