April 28, 2011: Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple Complex, New Delhi, “Fifth Hymn to Siva”

Published in the A Year in Resist: March 15, 2011-March 15, 2012, Journal, The Indian Notebook

Like the wind visible only in the movement of the leaves as it passes, where it is no longer, he only exists in motion.

A shadow that’s wandered into the valley even though the sun is at its zenith.

It’s colder at the bottom of the lake. And for whatever reason I was a conscious part of it.

But soon will be no more, and that will have to be enough whether I am pleased with it or not.

Until then, am I driving or am I driven?

The days are shorter now. Restlessness and impatience have returned. The bright water of the icecaps returns rocks from the tallest mountains back into the sea, but I cannot walk from where I am to where I want to be.

Who knows what’s going on in anybody’s head? We are on different journeys and mostly we have walked alone, but each is happy to see each other miles from the last human being–we smile, and continue moving, but for a moment slowing down, realizing one is not all alone even in the farthest wilderness. Not sure what anything means.