Tucked inside a dark crevice
In the roots of an old coconut tree,
Its bark; slippery and slimy,
Home for snails and moss colonies
Fallen leaves rot away
Some float in muddy puddles,
Skeletal remnants of a harsh summer
Wriggly worms, at least a dozen,
Some climb up the tree
Others rest on the compound wall
Some parallel, some perpendicular
Born in to the bosom of the prolific monsoon;
The worms; yellow and black
Stand out like wild blooms in a spring meadow
The compound wall; an eco-system in itself
Rain drops rest on a million moss heads,
Their crowns sparkle though the sun is in hiding
Lady bugs, a handful at least,
Move in and out of the moss patches
Earth worms, thin and many
Slither up in search of a better abode
Up above the thick thickets
Of a plush Loobikka tree
A bee; orange and black buzz around
Down below, a single berry; red and ripe
Catches my eye in earnest
“Pick me up, pick me up”,
Hushed whispers reach up to my ears
It has been a few days since,
The red berry now rests by my window pane
Reminding me of the big wonders in my small backyard
