THE PARROT IN MY MANGO TREE

Early bird poem 01/04/2020 #napowrimo2020

Standing in my grilled in balcony
Looking at the beauty of the mango tree beyond
I was distracted by a ruffle in the leaves
It was not the wind, the movement was purposeful
As if made by a hand.
There being no trace of life, my spine shivered
At the ghostly apparition and my breath came
In a quick gasp only to be held in silence
For, there appeared a little hooked coral
A beak plucking at an obstructing mango leaf
Now once, twice and again till it came loose
And fell down. The obstruction now out of the way
The coral set to work.
As it bit, little by little, into the tempting smoothness
Of the large mango, I tried to trace the camouflaged
Body amidst the green foliage.
Waited I patiently for it to reveal itself, my biding
Was not in vain. The parrot, engrossed in its meal
Moved out from its hiding as it pecked
The unexplored parts of the fruit.
I watched with silent amusement the bird
And its undisturbed act. And when satiated
It flew away, a carefree, unworried bird into the skies
Leaving its half-eaten fruit for its meal
The next day.
There was no greed too, its wings opened out
When it flew showed no signs of fruit
Tucked in for its brood.
Was that why it lost not its freedom
While I looked on from a lockdown place?
#VidyaShankarpoetry
#earlybirdnapowrimo2020


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