Who would have thought in the thick of estates
– where I reside –
could be found not mere men,
but birds in array –
The common Myna, of course,
And the Pigeons as well.
Flamebacks.
Hornbills.
Koels.
Parakeets.
Doves.
Orioles.
Sparrows.
Munias.
–
Yes they are here (to my disbelief)
As patrons and neighbours
– a motley crew –
Who add to the interests,
with their sightings and sounds,
Of those who see past
The generic bird.
Now there is one fowl
Which is not in the list,
Intentionally left out
To particularise.
What is she called?
I wonder…
Is it a sparrow? (which at first I thought)
Though brown, it is not.
A tad too large?
Yes, definitely too large.
A broad elongated tail?
Can’t be a sparrow.
And look –
Wow!
– its head! Look at its head!
Handsomely white with a streak of black,
The kind which garners second looks.
But that’s not all.
For its movement is flamboyant,
Resembling a dancer – a flamenco dancer, to be exact –
In her long-laced dress, she
Hops,
Turns,
Switches,
Suspends
– and Swoosh!
Alas, she is gone!
Her beauty missed.
The one held dear but gone with the wind.
When will I see her –
again and again?
Oh.
But what is she called?
Yes, what is she called?
Yellow-vented Bulbul
– I’ll remember that.
*Image Source: eBird (Photo taken by JJ Harrison)
*For the more curious readers, visit https://singaporebirds.com to see pictures of the bird species aforementioned.
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