The Tale Of The White Pegion

By Sheikh Shabir Kulgami

The tale of the white pigeon

Crows, eagles, vultures walking as friends,

Devouring a carcass were they talking,

A pigeon as white as snow is sweating for one inch,

You are black O, you pigeon and tear his feather for a piece;

Away the pigeon flies from the carcass.

Eat it, eat O, Freak pigeon!

Thee are black, thee are black;

Nay, nay I won’t thee stones,

The milk of kindness has dried up in thee

You are barren O, custard!

Away with thee O, white pigeon!

Away goes the pigeon for a clean grain

Vultures call him the animal sans brain

Evil is the white wing, they do scream;

Free him of it or blacken it

Once black, the pigeon cannot talk of light:

He’ll hate the white wing,

Cage that pigeon they do never;

Away he flies in glee in that jungle

Crows and eagles throw mud at him

The white wing goes ne’er black,

Alone and alone does he remain,

The white wing is the abiding ache;

Far they go from the friendless friend

His nest of one inch is an eyesore

Out of their houses they storm his nest

While his honey makes them flee.

By Sheikh Shabir Kulgami