Dawn Chorus

The Dawn Chorus (October,04,Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian)

By: Victor Karunairajan

Five AM sharp the cuckoo cues,
Caws the crow: "What's the deuce?"
"It's the dawn, let's set the fuse,
Yond clouds are in lovely hues,
On the east with splendid views."

Thus begins the morning song,
Cuckoos first and roosters next,
Parrots follow, sparrows wake,
Kingfishers tap the coconut palms,
For early treat of curly worms.

Seven Sisters like convent nuns,
Seek together their earthly grub;
While squirrels in their whereabouts,
Search and dig for juicy treats.

The kites soar the lofty clouds
In spirals on their feathery spreads.
And all alone on my Tamarind Tree
A cutie robin in style and grace,
Of magpie breed and voice so sweet,
Greets the dawn with melodious joy.

"Good Morning," moos the gentle cow,
"Time to eat," bleats the nanny goat.
"Hungry, hungry," grunts the pig
The ducks rejoin in a quacky jig.
The chorus ends with a lusty gobble
From turkey toms on the cobble.

On the horizon we behold
Solar rays in beams of gold
Gushing gently from the mighty ball
Over hills, dales and mountains tall.

Bless this dawn; bless one and all

Victor Karunairajan reminisces his time in his village home in Sithankerny, northern Sri Lanka. He dreams of the day he will get back and be treated by the sweet sounds of the Dawn Chorus. In order that to happen, peace must return to Sri Lanka and Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others will then coexist as if they are one Sri Lankan family. Is this too much to ask from the rulers of the country where for hundreds of years we have all lived together in peace and amity?