Green Bee-Eater

More precious than all

the gems of  Jaipur—

the green bee-eater.

If  you see one singing

tree-tree-tree

with his space-black bill

and rufous cap,

his robes

all shades of emerald

like treetops glimpsed

from a plane,

his blue cheeks,

black eye-mask

and the delicate tail streamer

like a plume of smoke—

you might dream

of the forests

that once clothed

our flying planet.

And perhaps his singing

is a spell

to call our forests back—

tree

     by tree

              by tree.