for them to cool
I open my mouth to eat
the clouds
and drink their water
for my mind to begin
to splash and swim
the oceans
and trees grow
out of my head
forests with birds
and animals
and teeming
with life
and then I start
to sing
and it is such
an overwhelming
feeling
to see
the entire Universe
stand and listen.
and their ways
win your respect
and their work
your admiration
in the evening
I walked down
a quiet lane
lazing in the shade
our fellow
humans are
the greatest
reassurance
although we
don’t realise it
all the time
the birds sing
and take off
into the blue sky
carrying me
so far
51 years
dropping me
on the side
of this mountain
with this song
on my lips.
when I was young
all the good times
all the sunshine
all the starry
streetlit nights
life is good today too
the sky paints me
in strokes and circles
of white and blue
I am mountain dew
I am the wind that blows
I am water that flows
I am flowers blooming
I am the birds chirping
I am the children
on their way to school
I am nobody’s fool
I am everyone around
the world
every baby being born
this beautiful fresh morn
and joy is the song I sing
c’mon folks let’s take wing.
across buildings
in Bombay
and here in Kumily
the birds sing
most delightfully
you could be surfing
inside a cloud
you could be springing
across the leaves of trees
you could be sliding
up and down mountains
and always there
is the forest
and so many stories
blow in the breeze
because of it
we are enriched
warbling in song in joy
washing in the light
from the sky
full of warmth
and in our hearts glow
the wonder of love.
so dark
so soothing
I could feel
I was being
born
and infinity
seemed like
the embryo
I was breaking
leaping into
the world
catching
the morning sun
in my hands
and running
on the Earth
jumping in joy
soon I meet others
like me holding
the moon and stars
and we begin
to sing
as animals join us
then the trees
the mountains
and the oceans
and our song
makes the sky red
and yellow and blue
and we roar
in happiness
knowing
what life is.
swaying
sending me
in a trance
of cool
invisible
figures
all the way
to the blue
sky
where the sun
shines today
and back
down here
the birds
sing in
the trees
outside
my window
and everyone
is quiet
enjoying
the moment
given to us
like love.
from here and touch the blue sky
where it descends over my terrace
and butterflies flutter about in joy
and the dappled sunlight
over the leaves of my trees
fill me with delight till I sing
and find myself transformed
into a bird that takes wing
and ecstatic I fly over the hills
and the rivers so green
and people wave out to me happily
and soon join me here
in the firmament
and together our voices ring
all over the world
which is instantly filled
with our love
that drives away all fear
and all of us see one thing
bright and clear
in no eye is there a tear
we have achieved
the impossible here
everyone is in good cheer.
all around me
and there are
very few left
who are human
and they are
now close
to my heart
in the evening
the children sing
in chorus
making me joyous
but otherwise
it is crazy
the wraiths
walk about
and look at you
without really
looking
and that is scary
and they wander
onto their terraces
and get blown
away by the wind
and I listen
to the chirping
of the birds
who say
don’t worry Dominic
don’t worry.
while I live
and I find this morning
the sky is the best thing
it is friendly
bright blue
so cool to grasp
I feel so happy
I begin to sing
and around me
birds flap their wings
and dance
sending me
into a trance
full of gratitude
that life gave me
this chance
and as I open
my eyes and look
others like me
are holding on
to the firmament
until all of us
are finally here
until our chorus
of joy
makes this our world
our freedom
our flag unfurled.
makes love to my mind
and the birds start to sing
the forest enfolds me in her arms
and I shudder in pleasure
as I turn into the river
now I am water
you can drink
and slake your thirst
and you can dive into me
and swim
I will satisfy your every whim.
Dominic Alapat 