Missing Charles - Poem by Prathibha Nandakumar

It was a long journey to the base camp
The peak was a different matter
But the pigeons were there before me
I believe they asked the sage in penance
why cant birds swim, that would be
easier than flying.

I believe he quoted Hakim Sanai, the sufi,
when you reach the sea you do not talk
about the streams.

The pigeons screamed
when the streams look beyond borders
you do not go in search of the sea.

Hakim Sanai smiled
when the birds can swim and
fish can fly you are on the peak
and not base.