On First Of July, 2013 Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Descending scale in four stages,
Was the calling of the crow-pheasant
I had my binocs to locate him
But to no avail.

To compensate, a pond heron flew in,
And two mynahs with lesser
White patch, and the bird boat
Below, accompanied by two on the grass.

Very early in the morning, number is less:
They start increasing about 8 am
Especially the smaller, restless birds,
Sometimes including VIPs like Golden Oriole.

Not to forget the blue-backed kingfisher
I saw in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala
Catching small insect in the lawn
Flying back to the light-pole.

Steadily he sits, and opens his
flesh-colored beak and adjusts the insect
From across to along the beak,
And gulps it down complacently.

Up above, the dark grey rain clouds,
Are covering us, promising
A rainfall before long, making us
Feel the monsoon through eyes

And ears, and work to be done,
Closing down the open widows,
Removing clothes from the line
And keeping umbrellas and candles ready.

Best of all, the shine on green leaves,
The transparent arrows from the sky
And gentle rain dance above the trees
And fading glory of the colorful flowers.