Tuesday, December 24, 2013

I forgot to ask my mother 'Why?'

     

           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



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* Nandivardhana - Plumeria