Tucson Bird

by Madathil Rajendran Nair

Who did build this silken nest
On this prickly mountain plant
Swaying in the vagrant winds
On this Tucson canyon ridge?

Architect of wilderness!
Am told you don’t return home
Till after the sun has gone
By when canyon trips are closed

Google searches failed to tell
Who could such a home belong
You a trogon, towhee, finch
Warbler, redstart, humming bird?

With stripes on a fluffy chest
Picked from rainbows at sunset?
Do you have a crown on head
Wagging tail of golden plumes?

Are your eyes mascara-lined
Black and dark by new moon night?
Are they of a crimson tone
Shaded bright by blushful dawn?

Don’t you sing like nightingales?
Do you trill and thrill the hills?
Unknown friend of earth and sky
Sweet conjecture all this mine

I can see you deep in nest
Eyes in rest with head in chest
Lighted by the lady moon
Fumbling with her starry gown

Is that so my little friend
Haven’t you drunk the world too in
Starry expanse, nest and moon
Wind, night and everything?

When you sleep the world does cease
It nests in you one with you
Why does then a fool like me
Indulge in a guessing game?

Why I ponder how you look
When I too am within you
One with you and never apart
Myself am the bird you are?

Made of rapture full of song
Rainbow wings to soar aloft
To boundless freedom at last
Where time and space stand aghast

Image © Madathil Rajendran Nair

06-Mar-2014

More By : Madathil Rajendran Nair

Views: 2061 Comments: 2

Comments on this Poem

Beautiful. I could visualize myself looking at the nest there with you. Really loved the ending.

Abhishek Nair
12-Apr-2014 15:13 PM

That confirms u r in the US now. Great work. Kudos!

Rian John
15-Mar-2014 14:48 PM