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every morning they breed

like a madness

fly in droves to Hyde Park

croon and coo over their young

flutter and tweet in misharmony

put on a show for eager white

faces and their cameras

bounce and titter and flit

at night the older ones stay

perched on shaking branches

stare wistfully into an abyss

where they ride rickshaws

nip at papad slices at Clifton

croak out cheap ghazals

listen intently to adhans

sway to the melody of God

await protection abundance mercy