He watches the coterie tumble and
Dance, flirt with air-currents,
A smile on his lips,
Even as he trains them,
Directs their pairings,
With an eye for their offspring's fortune.
He exhorts them to lean into
The best of what their God gave them,
Discarding the careless practices
Of his fond but feckless forebears.
Each feather is a treasure,
Ribboned ankles a flash of pride
In the heart of his court.
Ringed with gold, fed only the best,
They test the Charkh and the Bazi,
Fling themselves into contention with
Gravity, pull praises from him,
Trust to the truth of his love.
And even after their brief twirls are done
They grace the zenana, pecking painted grains,
Perfect specimens forever.
Pigeons feeding near a golden pigeon cote on a hillside, Mughal, Kashmirmid – 17th Century © The Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge.
Ishqbazi means “love-play” and is what Emperor Akbar used to call pigeon-flying. This is either adorable or slightly creepy. Probably adorable.
Charkh means “a lusty movement ending with the pigeon throwing itself over in a full circle”
Bazi means “lying on the back with the feet upwards, and quickly turning round”
Zenana “contextually refers to the part of a house belonging to a Hindu or Muslim family in the Indian subcontinent which is reserved for the women of the household.”
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