The Little Black Bird

By Vihaan Riju

If you ask me, “What birds I see every day?”,

Dull pigeons and crows is what I’ll say!

But this was a different late afternoon,

For I saw a sight, rarer than a blue moon!

I was sitting by my window, sipping tea,

When suddenly I jump when I see,

A little black blur with a white streak,

Fly so fast, as if it were late for a meet!

Down I go, to investigate,

What had interrupted my tea break

I then spot, a sight to behold,

A little black bird, preparing to soar!

I see it, many times, sitting on a tree,

Enjoying the fact that it’s so free!

It seems to tweet the gossip of the day,

As its white streak glows in the sun’s golden ray!

Then, dawned a week,

Where I didn’t see the bird that I seek,

The week turned into a month,

And when I realized why, I was stunned!

I discovered a sight quite grim,

A cut-down tree, that used to touch the sky’s rim!

And among the wreckage was a nest,

And in it, the little black bird, may he peacefully rest!

The incident was very saddening,

And increasingly maddening!

Such a beautiful, delicate creature,

Slain by some horrendous sinner!

But, outside I look, and see,

Tinier little black birds three!

An example of nature’s will to survive,

For however much of its beauty we deprive,

It’ll always thrive!

By Vihaan Riju