The Nest of the Weavers

Dilip Kumar Jha
 
A pair of weavers for many days
has been trying to make in my house
their shelter
their nest
They are busy collecting weeds of different sizes and colors
from different places.
While cleaning those scattered weeds
my wife complains daily:
“Drive them away; they vex me. “

Ah! Please let them stay!
They are making their house.
Have you ever seen the pair of weavers attentively?
They have just stepped into youth;
they will take rest once the nest is completed
they will love leisurely and enjoy
they want to do all
that we were not destined to do
we lost our golden youth
for this two-room house.
Let them enjoy.
They are not going to get such prime days.
Now nobody allows them to make nest on the branches
the owners of trees earn rent on trees
and the government imposes service tax.
Please consider! Where will they go?

I asked the pair of birds in sign language:
Are you going to make a house inside my house?
They also answered in gestures:
(You) people have multi-storey houses
Should we remain living under the sky forever?

[Translated from Maithili into English by Ayodhyanath Choudhary]