Birds Of Tawang Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

On my way to Tawang on the hills,
I had taken my old, Thai binoculars,
A rare copy of the book by Dr Salim Ali,
On the Birds of the Eastern Himalayas.

For that book, I searched in shops
Of Mumbai, placed order on
The Strand Bookstall on Sir P M Road,
After a week, they said Not available.

As Life-Member, I went to BNHs
Asked to buy a copy, was told
That it is out of stock, and only Oxford
Has, but shop has shifted to Andheri now.

Telephoned them to be told politely,
That there is no print after 1996,
And no copy available anywhere:
At this point, the BNHS clerk sprang alive,

'If you are a member, why not
See in our Library, and use it
For the trip? ' Genius! It didn’t strike
Me, the dimwit, I went and took copy.

Reminded me of my visit to Sarnath
Opposite Benares, and found that copy
Of Buddha's first talk at Sarnath
Was just not available there or near!

In two days after reaching Tawang, I have seen
Only three types of birds, the white pigeon,
Black jungle crow on pole, shiny and cawing,
And one small green bird with yellowish belly.

After all the efforts to procure the book,
I finished the trip of eight days in Arunachal
Without having opened it: In fifth century B C,
Euripides said rightly at the end of his plays:

“Zeus on Olympus has many things in his store-room:
The gods bring to pass many surprising things.
What was expected is not fulfilled.
For the unexpected, the gods find a way”.