An evocative poem by Raja is about a crow that raises her chicks equally, overcoming instinct and love, exclusively for Different Truths.

At five o'clock in the morning, a crow’s nest
Flutter of busy wings, in her Sunday best
She swings into action, mouths to feed
For worms and beetles, she looked in the weed
This is a special day for they will fly
Her’s and the cuckoo’s too; this one is a bit shy
She knew, to begin with, that one was not hers
But what the heck and who cares?
So, she went about and gave them love
As the hen fosters her child, or the dove
And brought them up as it should have been
They all took the warmth of her feathers and skin
And years later, homeward-bound in haste
A cuckoo flew over to a crow’s loving nest.

Illustration by the poet

Raja Chakraborty

Raja Chakraborty, born in Kolkata, is a bilingual poet, a gifted artist and bureaucrat, crafting seven English and nine Bengali poetry collections. His works grace magazines, anthologies, and e-zines. In the West Bengal Excise Department, he combats drug abuse and oversees liquor shop licensing under the Bengal Excise Act 2012, curbing illegal trade. Balancing literary passion with public service, Chakraborty’s contributions enrich West Bengal’s cultural and administrative spheres, showcasing his dedication to poetry and societal welfare.