Mynah Birds In Ushaka Beach, Durban Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

As I looked down, drawn by the metallic song of mynah bird
I see him hopping quickly on the pavement:
He walked down the carriageway, picked up food -
Insects, I am afraid - and hopped back on pavement
And then I saw his mate landing on the left
A little away. Both were aware of the danger of traffic
And nimbly kept up jumping back on the pavement.
Though standing on the edge of the structure,
Barely inches away from vehicles flashing past,
He did not care to show fear, but stood his ground.

My mind went back by half a century
To Thackalay where my dear father worked
As Assistant Commercial Tax Officer
At the Kerala - Tamilnadu Checkpost
In around 1959. We lived in a sprawing big
House with huge open spaces in the backyard
With huge jackfruit trees, and fruiting too.

CK came and played footbal with me there!

I killed a mynah with my catapult
And the mate was circling the spot
For the next three days.

We have changed a lot since then,
Both the mynahs and I.

Unafraid, they flew off, showing white spots
Hidden below their purple wings,
But a sure sign of peace, with me.