gulls and bullies

 

i observed three parasitic jaegers

among seventy ring-billed gulls

and confused the jaegers

to overfed juvenile gulls

ambiguity surfaced from the apparent

hospitality of gulls; learning later

i realized gulls regurgitate their meal

a pattern among bird parenting!

i have now learnt to forgive jaegers

forget bullying of these creatures

and observed, now, my cookies

frequently emptied by my daughter

she is well known for her skin color

and cherishing not my cookies!

i was misled in admiring

hospitality of my girl

i learnt it right, but a lot later

watching closely a guarded secret

my daughter under threat

appeasing the caucasian bullies

henry victor     25.08.2002

   

schooled

 

i was schooled

not in the school

of scoundrels

who, exactly know

the way of success

and plenty

these seemingly wise

rebuked me

for my refusal

to follow

their easy model

rather i was schooled

in the school

of trees

and those distant stars

as the clouds

fair and dark

tutored me

to be free

like singing creatures

of wings

large and small

to fly, and fly away

and never be afraid

of want, height

or even failure

i was schooled

until i learnt

the lessons

to let go

as those seemingly wise

rebuked me

for my refusal

to follow

their easy model

of success

and plenty

© henry victor     25.01.1981

the three magpies

 

three magpies, first i thought

invaded my lawn

inhabited usually but now deserted

by those numerous nattering sparrows

the tiny birds i fed

to their full stomach

ungrudgingly with my generosity

i curtailed towards my kith, kin and kind

first i considered the three magpies

as intruders bent to take advantage

of my kindness

declared in my new bird-feeder

but soon as the three ignored

and went past my exhibit

i realized myself a stupid selfish glutton

that wants not to lose my control

© henry victor     15.09.2003