What I’ll miss most about home as I leave Kolkata this spring:

A pair of starlings
squat on a leafy branch of
the Kadam tree opposite our verandah.
A furry friend jumps off our terrace
and squirrels past my arms, placid against
balcony railings. Sometimes a couple red-hooded peckers
or green pigeons join their baithak. A crow burrows
leaves and bones in the hollow of our
bedroom skylight. I run to inform Maa
about the trespassing, almost forgetful that
these are only reminders of the lone Ashok tree
waiting at the entrance of our gully in
North Delhi, posed as a landmark
for delivery guys and acquaintances
on their
quest to
locate
my nest.