ukEke ukEke ukEke ukEke ukEke
the bird I couldn't see from my lanai
where I was on my yogasana mat
Sang in full-body delight
ukeke ukeke ukeke ukeke ukeke
a deep, low chorus rang back from afar
perhaps from the plumeria trees all over Maui
As if asking are you sure, you young one?
these are a favorite of Shiva
my mother's floating voice sang-back in my ear
(whom I haven't called in a while)
As she picked the velvety white-yellows from our small nandivardhana tree
it is in the way some said
In the way of a new gate in wicket fence around yard
I used to stand in the emptiness
where the tree used to, my small feet on sawed-off trunk
ukEke ukEke ukEke ukEke ukEke
the bird replied in same full-body delight
Echoing the brimming blue-green waters
and black-stony mountains sipping from fresh morning clouds
for sure it doesn't have autism -
the bird I couldn't see from my lanai
Its body is singing interaction however it wishes
for its daily dance of survival
If it had autism, for sure
its body can't sing interaction however it wishes
for its daily dance of survival -
the bird I couldn't see from my lanai
the bird I couldn't see from my lanai
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* Nandivardhana - Plumeria
