Meow, Meow Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

The Vanishing Act

The story started
a few months back.
After COVID had erupted
My daughter was allowed
‘working from home'
And came over
to live with us.

One damp evening
We had a little guest
Alone he came and said
‘meow" to my daughter,
Soon he became
The newest addition
To our little family.

"Brownie" we named him
Always scared of
Any moving object
He never ventured out
But reigned like a king
Within the four walls
Of our small but sumptuous house.

Our outer yard
And the garden full
of trees were home
To a large variety
Of birds and animals.

Sparrows, mynas and pigeons
A tiny little green bee eater
Cuckoos and woodpeckers
A squirrel family on the mango tree
A pair of dotted doves
Sat on the high palm tree
Exchanging their vows of love.

A spotted eagle flew at a height
With its eyes sharply focused
It's prey moving on the ground.
A lone black parakeet sang
melodiously on the mango tree.

Their songs, chirping and tweet
The squirrels' squeaks sweet
On the mango tree full of fragrant flowers
All made the mornings most melodious
Which even the cacophonous caws
Of the ravens did not disturb.

As the kitten grew up
all these started to vanish.
Except the ravens.
When did it all start and
when did it end
we didn't notice.

But, now the only sound
in and around the house
is 'meow, meow'.