Compartmentalise

 

You can watch the birds from the terrace here.

The tangle of wires slices the sky thin

and shrinks the views, but still, it’s been a good year -

the mynah’s back, so are the crow and pigeon.

The  doves and, in their season, the cuckoos.

There’s birdsong, even if you don’t get the views.

 

The drongos like beads on an abacus

the sparrows of unremarkable throats -

ordinary plumage’s all around us.

Put off that search for remote scenic spots.

Bird calls rise with the light and urban fumes,

the city ebbs from the terrace and the rooms.

~~~

Gosh, May's ending already? The months are vanishing faster than ever, I don't know if that's a good, time-flies-when-you're-happy/busy sign or an ominous one of days outstripping my capacity to keep up. Let's go for the positive one - I'm all for the feel good, steady boat themes. 

Lots happening as usual - workmen in the house, trips to the eye doctors, an antho submission, thank goodness the war noises have stopped, let's keep everything here small, personal, worm eye level. Because what's happening out in the world is kind of overwhelming, to put it mildly. I'm borrowing a line from one of my favourite fictional characters - 'I'll think about that tomorrow.'

Another line from another favourite character, real not fictional this time - 'a man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between does what he wants to do.' That's Bob Dylan, his birthday went by a couple days back, happy birthday sirji! - from this fan. 

By his definition, which I expect holds for women too, I am success enough. I listen for the birdsong. Focus on the wires, treetops, clouds. Block out the incessant noise at ground level. Read a little. Write a little. Compartmentalise. 

Have a happy-busy, time-flies type week ahead.