Deer Park, Bir

District Kangra

tea country.

from the roof 

panoramic valley views at sunset

here one gets just a tease of the Himalayas

we got fresh snow in the mountains yesterday

its May.

but the rivers are dry

choked by the heat

and the heap of plastic bottles

biscuit wrappers 

tires

some afternoons

thunder storms blow through

intense, urgent in their will 

to unravel

the most stoic flagpoles

as i walk to the town from deer park

chirping birds give way 

to barking dogs

to honking taxis

to trucks rumbling thru

with daily loads of rocks

from the river

it is saka dawa

one of the holiest months in the buddhist calendar

and the whirring of large prayer wheels

chants and the tinkling of tea cups

permeates the tibetan settlement community center.

it is believed this month

the merit of good deeds are

multiplied many thousands of times.

(Pictured: Deer Park temple, a detail from one of the murals at Dzongsar Institute in Chauntra, Geeti and I for a walk down to the river, and the mani stones at Chokling Monastery.)

Delhi

the wind. it hit me like the voice of a familiar friend,

sending me back

to joys 

long lost 

past the memory of chili.

this place is music in the form

of spice

infiltrating the air

almost indistinguishable from dust

simmering in the sunlight

songs and thuds from taut

skins 

laughter in the morning

bare feet 

clapping

this place is music in the form

of prayer

praising the dawn

almost indistinguishable from birdsong

calling to life the wake

of children

sailing past fragrances

sweetly drifting

yellow boughs