Beggar

crickets chirp

in nearby groves

together they sing

to welcome

evening..

now the forest swarms

with dark corners..

like giant magnets

summoning everything

this place thakshaka..

silence hums..

seems to be familiar

dear one..

then for

a brief respite

from the rising fright..

eye turns

to focus

on the sights nearby

in the giant trees

where the singing

is loudest

as the winged ones

finally return

to greet

their families

one by one..

thakshaka..dear one

are you

hungry my friend..

would you

like to have

some food..

?

i hear me

gently ask

it slowly turns

one glistening eye

to smile and shake

its hood

something tugs

at the heart

cant understand..

oh..how

did i not think

of this

before

how dear one..

did i

let you

starve..

i find dear heart

inconsolable now

clasping tightly

my friend to me

i hear me repeat

just wait here

dear one

just wait until..

i get you some..

eye pauses

puzzled..

it wonders

through

the wet blur..

some..

it repeats

taking in

the half giant form..

wait..

what is your food

my dear..

what does your father

give you

to eat..

?

is it..

slowly eye wonders

is it..

meat

..?

the breeze

seems to shiver

suddenly

and so do all

rustling leaves..

as eye sees

thakshaka

and the trees

swaying wildly

in what seems

like shared

laughter

you know them

thakshaka?

eye asks

the friend..

thakshaka manages

to nod

in time..

all of them?

eye asks again..

again thakshaka

nods agreement

then eye turns

to the trees above

to smile

and share

in a joyous moment

plop! i hear

i jump

in alarm

the trees cant stop

shaking uncontrollably now

plop..plop..plop

it sounds like

a hail storm!

plop..one hits

the shoulder

one lands

in the palm..

oh aamm..mma

ma..ngo

mango..mangoes

all around

poof! i hear

smoke..

it clears

eye sees

thakshaka..nestled

neatly

in the palm..

as i draw

it near..

the little one

whispers

this..

will do for me

beautifully..

now dear friend

please

don’t worry..

saying thus

it disappears

into the fruit..

gently..i reach

for a sheltered place

in my pockets

to keep

my dear friend

safe