The prayer inside us all
on Indian Bells (India), 16/May/2010 12:18, 34 days ago
90 kilometres of warm desert air rushing through Bolero windowsSand, not yet scorched reaching up ankles and in between toesTwo cousins, one GIS expert, one foreignerPushkar pilgrims400 temples all aroundThe lake eargerly awaiting the monsoonIce cold lassis from clay cupsDeep pink rose petalsMy offeringThe prayer inside us allMy wish, captured and recycled by entreprenuial holy menAgressively willing to cleanse your karmaAt a very reasonable rateRinse your hands in sacred ghatsNo thought of diseaseOld breasts bathing bareWrinkling women wringing ghargras dryJootis, dripping with sequins, now in my possessionSharing holy sweets while Brahma looks onBare feet running across hot marble, shrine worshippingJust one more lassi for the the roadBuses overtaking on blind bends through snake mountainLovers huddled in corners overlooking Ana Sajar in ancient AjmerInvalids, Muslims, Hindus pushing towards DurghaNo shoes, black feet seeking dung free islandsHeads coveredAll hoping for their requests heardHerded round the Sufi's tombBlessed under the cover of a blanketThrow flowers at the saint, money in the wellThrobbing families close in, new borns longing for a glimpseA business card from our KhadimPlease come againA third holy string gradually enveloping my right wristHome time, dehyrdration sets in, dusk fallsKissanghar caturie, not to be missedSweet chutney dripping down the sidesGreeted by calls of 'what did you buy?' 'can we see the photos?'The views expressed in this weblog are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of VSO.