Muni(a)’s Worth!

Weary soles and wretched souls,
ending one of our worst strolls,
a trail promising sighting goals,
no birds and empty crab holes.

Then at the dirt trail’s fag end,
in the shrubs around the bend,
fluttering wings heard in descend,
flickering hopes began to ascend.

A furred figure buff and blurred,
turned a clumsy juvenile bird,
busy with preening undeterred,
despite our presence unstirred.

In a trice the bough came alive,
there wasn’t one but all of five,
jostling pecking doing the jive,
nibbling stalks none to deprive.

Saw then why they were carefree,
a watchful parent high in a tree,
often being pestered with a plea,
I’m done preening now feed me.

All this drama within a few feet,
fatigue had since taken a backseat,
hearts filled with joy at such a treat,
in a flash our trek was complete!

A small portion of this poetry has been captured on video and is posted on Instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZD-wwgBVHg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link.

[Framed: A brood of juvenile Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) preening themselves under the watchful eyes of their parents, and later begging for food.
Location: Dahisar Mangroves Forest, Mumbai]

– Narendra Nayak © 2022