The Solitary Hunter

The solitary hunter, the red dragonfly

Focused on food and the female passing by.

He sits on the tip of the blade
Of grass, as if holding a spear
To be driven deep into the heart
of his victim.

He scans the sky above,
The ground around,
Intent, intense -
Nothing escapes him
Nothing shall be allowed to escape.

To eat, to mate and procreate -
What else is there in this life -
To do?
So let's bicker, spit, rear up
And bare -
Our fangs and claws -
And when the time comes
Reveal the dagger up our sleeves
And stab on the back, deep.

Let us smear ourselves with the blood
Of our victims,
Gorge on their flesh, clack our teeth
Clean our faces of the filth
As we wait for the next victim.

The solitary hunter, the red dragonfly
Focused on food and the female passing by.

*******
Balachandran V . 23.10.2017 Trivandrum

In the Open

A deep sigh escapes my lips, as in the morning

I empty a full bladder, leaning to the coconut palm. 

Nothing more pleasurable than to empty oneself

Of urine and from one’s mind, yesterday’s thoughts.

I blush; a Black Drongo on the wires turns

Its head to look at me; a Magpie Robin trills a song.

The Kingfisher, hops down on a branch

Above my head and shakes his, as if in disapproval.

High above, against the darkening sky

The dragonflies swarm and circle

Bracing for the long journey ahead.

When do I, begin mine?

*********

Balachandran V, 13.1.2017