An Incident at Myristica Creek

'It's impossible', said the ant to the fly
'To cross the stream in turbulence'.
Sitting on the edge of a leaf
The fly replied: ' Not if you can fly'.

'Ah, but you do have wings, pretty damsel,
Whereas I have only legs', mused the ant.
'Focus! Focus on the image of wings',
Said the fly, poised on the tip of a leaf
'And then you will gain wings, and fly'.

Wiser now, the ant focussed; he felt
The stirring in his heart and thought:
'Yes, yes, I can feel them growing, the wings
They sprout and fan rapid, they beat fast'.

The damselfly leapt; it flew, over the stream
And landed softly on the farther bank.
The ant dreamt; it jumped -
The moral is : only those with wings can fly.

****
Calocypha laidlawi aka Myristica Sapphire. Munnar, 2019

Coming of Age

The vine danced in the wind.
Swinging gently, the young one thought
'This is life; I will soon be an adult
I will take in many lovers
I will have offsprings in thousands
This beautiful land and brook mine'.

Above, on the low-hanging branch
Sat a Bee-eater, sharpening his beak
His eyes had a kindness one could not fathom
As he gazed on the young dragonfly.

*****
Epithemis mariae juvenile male, SVNP, 2019