Birds of India

I am so excited to have finished my birds of India series!  While painting each one, I began to realize how my memories of these birds are strongly tied to vivid moments from my time spent in Chandigarh, specifically relating to being a new mom in a foreign place.   It was cathartic to revisit those memories and finally understand why I have always felt a need to paint these birds.

INDIAN GREY HORNBILL

Possibly it never fully goes away

and will always tease me, like the hornbill jumping,

landing full weight every time, and laughing

from branch to branch to branch.

The difference now is that

I recognize its call, and without shame forgive myself,

and let its song wash over me, sonorous and prehistoric.

KINGFISHER

What I learned from Kingfisher

standing out of context in

the courtyard with

a beak like a machete,

is the relativity of blue.

Even the India sky mid-day

recedes to grey against his turquoise robes.

PAINTED STORK

Tuesday I remember the storks

and how they looked like marionettes,

standing in the trees.

ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS

I remember Chandigarh,

crossing the roadway five lanes wide.

There I am in heaving panic.  But strapped to my chest, pointing up,

you chime Look!  Parakeets!  Look.  

MYNAH BIRDS

On the roof and wire,

on the branches by the balcony,

Mynah.  Always Mynah.

You cannot hide from Mynah.