Neena Singh

Birding

Each day we are forgotten by ourselves
through ourselves,
For we do not believe, in who we are. 
          —Mimi Novic, The Silence Between the Sighs

Away from the hustle-bustle of city life and traffic, my friend and I walk on the dirt path to the village pond. A binocular and a powerful camera rest on my friend’s shoulder.

Water chestnuts grow thick and lush, coloring the pondwater forest green. I strain to see through the fog. Far off, a white-breasted kingfisher perches on a boulder, perhaps waiting for sunshine. My friend picks up her camera.

I wait empty-handed, the song deep inside me.

winter molting    the flap of new-found wings

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About the Author

Neena Singh lives in Chandigarh, India. Her haiku, senryu, tanka, and haibun have appeared in online and print journals. Former banker, she now runs a non-profit for underprivileged children. She enjoys exploring gardens and has authored two books of poetry.