I Come In Peace... Poem by Ruta Mohapatra

Silence of the noon
Broken by a woodpecker
Knocking on a distant tree

Menfolk at office
Children at school
Most women in the kitchen
Some in office

The little bird outside the window
Chirping suddenly without break
Before falling silent
Its voice still echoing
Long after among the leaves

The day after the celebration
Suddenly quiet, suddenly hollow
What was it all about?
That euphoria, that outburst of joy? ?
A giant wave crashing into the sea
Then calm, placid waters!

All nature loves peace
The peace of the sitting Buddha
The peace of the standing Mahavir