Bird (in India)--By Isha Wagner--New Zealand

Bird (in India)

Acres of watered grass surround the miniature palace
Peacocks strut delicately stretching out fans of plumage
Seemingly aware of being watched

Sacred bird of India, each feather with an eye spot.
Who could dream this subtle intricate design
Long slender neck, white patches over eye.
My friend Sontosh smiles at my astonishment of beauty
be not deceived, these creatures are like seductive women
Who hypnotise then kill : they keep my vices at bay.
He laughs.

I see it all as the work of the Creator, I say
We do not call it the work of God, he says
No, we say it is the play of God : a kind of dance
Do you see?
(I'm not sure I do)

Come we will drink tea
And we enter the cool marble portals.

Isha Wagner is a New Zealand poet. She has resided in many countries including Iceland, Libya, India, and Australia.  She read some of her work at the VIII International Poetry Festival held in Granada, Nicaragua, in February 2012. She has had three collections of poetry published.