Jealousy

By Surya Suresh

In the forest of the green yonder beyond,

Lived a nightingale who sang songs galore.

In the mornings of the wondrous spring tide,

Her sweet songs were heard far and wide.

The fairies of the forest were drawn by her voice,

As they danced and rejoiced in the morning sun.

The nightingale was the sweetheart of the forest,

For she was the most beautiful of beings.

But there was a one who was not fond of her,

As the morning songs were a lightning to her ear.

The raven of the forest who lived by the brook,

Did not like the nightingale nor her songs.

What’s so special about her, thought the raven,

When I can sing a song more sweeter than her.

Her jealousy got the better of her own,

So she decided to bring an end to her enemy .

She flew away from the forest of the fairies ,

To see the king of yonder who ruled them all.

Your majesty, I come with a grave news, she said,

Your golden crown was stolen by the nightingale.

Hearing this the king was mighty enraged,

And ordered the guards to bring the songbird.

The nightingale frightened and desperate in time,

Pleaded with the king to spare her precious life.

But all the words that the sweet bird cried,

Fell on deaf ears as the king wanted her gone.

Banished from the forest of the green yonder mile,

The songbird flew away to the east beyond the night.

Her songs were replaced by the sounds of the raven,

Who croaked and cracked as she sang her song.

The sound of the forest with it’s wildlings and fairies, Was never the same in all of the spring mornings.

By Surya Suresh