In an autumn night, in a twilight
Two turtle doves flew to my house top
One was with silver lined wings
His love had dark blue spots on her neck.

I listened to their sweet talk
They are talking about life’s walks
In the cold autumn nights
Melodies flowed from my house top.

“We found a place to make a house
We will build a nest on the tallest tree
We will nestle our eggs in our home
They will hatch in it and grow free”.

I watched them carry limbs and twigs
They made a beautiful nest in days
They brought leaves and cotton
A bed they made for the chicks to sleep.

The dove with blue spots on her neck
She groaned to lay eggs in the early mornings
They were proud for their dreams had wings
Home is sweet and the melodies flowed.

The doves took spells to warm the eggs
They warmed up the eggs and their dreams
They were proud, for they had a home
They were proud, for they had hopes

One day they counted the eggs
They found one was missing
It means the enemy has found their nest
Who is to protect it when the chicks hatch?

“It is the man’s duty”, the spotty bird screamed
“No, it is not only mine” the silver line shouted
“When I hunt for food the mother is in charge”
He had his hackles rise and shouted in dismay.

“No, No, No” the turtle doves screamed
They flexed the wings and sharpened the beaks
The waves of violence crossed the egg shells
“Stop this fight Mom, stop it Dad”

The fight continued, the nest shivered
Instead of music, hums and thumps I heard.
In the fight the eggs fell off from the nest
Alas! The sun hid his face, and the breeze wept.

If the chicks are lost, why do we need a nest?
If the dreams are lost why do we need a life?
If love is lost, why do we need a home?
If foundation is broken, what will support a house?

The turtle doves flew away to the arid clouds
One to the east and one to the west
The deserted nest talks to me in the twilights
The story of ahouse divided and fell apart.