In the wilderness

IN THE WILDERNESS
By Remigius de Souza

Perhaps I could sing words of birds
along smiling shoots of spring
in the company of mango bloom
and soothing green of cuckoo's Pancham,
and dance under the canopy of clouds
to the peacock's call in the backyards
on the pathway of Meghdootam
there in the abode of Saras;
or inscribe them on deadly diskettes
for the posterity.

In my mega-city museums, mummies
of birds celebrate sing silently,
in the tombs of Natural History.
Who shall cherish the memory
of my jungle of skyscrapers
and of glass-skyscrapers which scares
the heavenly eagles away;
of serpentine Metro that snatches
the abode of Shesha's descendants away?Notes: 1. Pancham: Fifth note in Indian classical music;
2. Meghadootam : Classicle Sanskrit poem by Kalidasa;
3. Saras: a bird;
4. Shesha: Mythological primal serpent, the bed of Lord Vishnu, while eagle is his vehicle.