Harvey Breit
BOMBAY: A LULL ABY
The Bombay hawk
Attacks between the sun and sun-sleeper
While pigeons gawk.
While hawks flay,
"Love me, love me interminably,"
The pigeons say.
o
Bombay, 0 city ultimately
When unison of bird and bird
Is heard.
o
country Gods, 0 urban saints,
In dark caves the sages are
Far from shore.
Children, you are Bombay hawks,
Pigeons, you are antique beggars.
Children are unflowered stalks
Lean as whips, rejecting pity;
Elders drowse, an orison of dreams
Devoid of schemes.
Elders, wake a little while
And fly with hawk.
Children, sleep a little more,
With pigeons talk.
o
Bombay city, pilgrimage :
Make boy and birds and man one image.
(To Nehru)
