Bird 1 - Mayur -The Peacock Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Spectacular Vision!
Of a fan most beautiful,
Painted with the brightest of colours
Of feathers, so silky and unique,
Blue, green, purple and yellow,
Opens like a fancy umbrella,
Or an arched dome in an emperor's palace,
The most handsome among the birds,
Is the proud Peacock!

A graceful dart!
A step, hop and a jump!
The dancing movement of a ballerina!
So heavily winged, yet so light on the feet,
Myriad feathers intricately designed,
The tender shoulders carrying the decorated wings,
With poise and style so attractive,
The plumes in soft oval shapes,
An array of fantastic hues!

When the clouds burst and the torrential rain
Come splashing to the ground,
Breaking the summer's weary heat,
Peacock's joy knows no bounds!
The wings that remain folded in long sweeps,
Opens and spreads into a semi-circular arch,
Like a flashy rainbow lined on earth,
The trees smile bashfully at the peacock's jingle,
While the tiny creatures stare with open-mouthed wonder.

'Mayur'- the adorable national bird of India,
Is not adored for its gorgeous form alone,
Or the power and pride,
But for the vision it creates
Of people, culture and languages,
Standing together in a holistic form,
Unity in diversity!
That has stood the test of history,
Never to be erased by the span of time.