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BATS

Agile bats bravely reclaim the humming, fragrant night, navigating city lights and dark trees.

June 15, 2022

The bats are out
tonight. Roller-coasting.
Shadow-boxing.
Enormous.
Dark as moths.
Flightier than butterflies.
Flitter-flutter-flitter
in the gloaming.
Weaving in and out
of the undulating
swarthy trees.
The big bats glide.
Glad for the sky
in this humming,
brimming dark.
The little ones dive.
Startled heads
duck. Rise.
Duck. Rise.
A star or two
are out too,
braving the catcalls
of city lights.
A fruity scent
descends.
Breezy evening.
Delicious air
sprinkled with
zest and spice
from the sea.
Quietly. So very,
very, quietly
Bats reclaim
their night.

📖
PART OF A COLLECTION

FIREFLIES and 4 other poems

View Full Collection →

Shikhandin

Shikhandin is the nom de plume of an Indian writer who writes for adults and children. Her published books, as Shikhandin, include “Immoderate Men” (Speaking Tiger), and “Vibhuti Cat” (Duckbill-Penguin-RHI). Contributor to Magic Stories for Eight Year Olds by Penguin RHI, and Flipped: An Anthology of School and Sports Stories by Harper Collins. She has been honoured with many national and international awards.

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