Kokila
The herald of dawn and dusk
The Sky changes her raiment,
As the queen of night fades,
Venus shining on the brow,
Of the Sun as he arrives.
The kokila bird greets the Sky as dawn,
With its long sweet cry,
Gently rousing its brethren,
To join its song.
A bird of beauty the kokila is not,
More glorious feathers adorn other birds,
But few can match its melodious call,
That never fails to stir one’s heart
Or soothe one’s troubled mind.
A call that can be heard from afar,
Clear and strong,
Spurring the people of the tropics,
Onto their daily chores.
Sometimes on a sleepy afternoon,
The kokila sings a monotonous tune,
Coaxing a student to fall asleep,
As the unsuspecting teacher continues her lesson.
As dusk arrives,
The kokila changes its tune,
The song it sings now,
Is one of joy and nostalgia,
For the day is done.
As I hear its song this evening,
I think of all the dawns and dusks,
I have had the fortune to see,
Of the beauty this wondrous Earth has,
Of all the good that exists,
The kokila’s call is a testament to,
The simple joys of life,
The joy of being roused every morn,
By a sweet call from the herald of dawn.
© Anannya Mondal, 2021
The kokila or koel is a cuckoo bird common in India. It has a beautiful singing voice that can be heard at dawn and dusk. The koel bird holds a special place in the heart of all Indians, reminding us of home and childhood.
Thank you for reading my poem.
