Wednesday, November 09, 2005

A Child Feeding the Birds

For my niece, Maha


For a while,
Let this be enough.

You are standing in your winter overcoat,
The two crimson ends of your scarf
Hanging down like a pair of wings,
Or maybe two rivers of blood,
Love-colored, complete.

The fat pigeons peck at your feet.
They have seen the bag of seed
In your hands. And even as you dip
Into it, they are setting themselves up
For the soft frenzy of feeding.

You pull out a handful
And fling it into the air,
Whirling around to make sure
Every bird gets its fair share.
You are careful and honest

And where you stood
There is now a red haze
From which the birdseed scatters
Like a shower of dreams
And makes quiet hearts flutter.


12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

aye! no mean superman jokes!

4:24 AM  
Blogger maryam said...

did you write this?

1:21 PM  
Blogger karrvakarela said...

Superfan: I like Superman too.

Chai: Yes, I did.

5:49 AM  
Blogger maryam said...

noiiice

7:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maha must beso chuffed!
how old is she?

10:08 AM  
Blogger karrvakarela said...

Chai: thank you

Zabz: she's four or five.

4:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know, if a person has only lived for half a decade (or less) in this world, than 1 year makes a HUGE difference. Better get her age right Mister.

5:13 AM  
Blogger yasmine said...

It's gorgeous. I bet she'll be excited to have this childhood memory documented so beautifully.

10:41 AM  
Blogger karrvakarela said...

Bushra: She's five.

Yasmine: Thank you.

5:20 AM  
Blogger yasmine said...

Let's get some more of that writing, bro.

2:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Really a superb poem.We hardly get to read such simple, still intricate poems.

8:01 AM  
Blogger karrvakarela said...

jazz: thank you. glad you liked it.

5:13 AM  

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