How I Wish! Poem by Ruta Mohapatra

How I wish I were a bird
Built a nest in spring
With twigs, leaves and mud
In the branches of a slender tree
Open to the air and sunlight!

Each morning waking up with the light
The fresh wind fanning my feathers
I would have circled the sky
Passing through the falling dew
Searching for sweet berries and nuts

With the sun rising high in the sky
I would have dozed among leaves
Hidden from the grey hawks eyes
Listening to the singing of the river
And the wind passing through the trees

With the sun winding towards the west
And the moon rising in the east
The evening star shining bright
I would have returned to my nest
To sleep under the starry sky

With no thoughts for the future
No plans for the morrow
No desire to unravel
The mystery of my creator
I would have slept away the night