April 26, 2011: Himalaya Foothills, “Looking in a Mountain Stream”
small silver fishes dart between shining black pebbles like flickering flames separated from their wicks. Continue Reading »
‘India and Nepal’
April 27, 2011: Himalayan Foothills, Nepal “Second Hymn to Siva”
Second Hymn to Siva Between the adored and the adorer falls the shadow.—Salman Rushdie Wandering in the river’s direction, the snowy peaks vanished, a dark sky, distant lightning, the sudden tearing of clouds, the scent of rain and strange shadows crossing the sky, half in and half out of my body, I decide to go… Continue Reading »
April 27, 2011: Katmandu, Nepal
I sit in a music store while the owner plays me bits of CD after CD of modern Nepalese music. I decide quickly what to buy. The music begins, I listen, and within 10-30 seconds I say either “Yes” or “Not so much” or “Can you fast forward to the next track please?” I explain… Continue Reading »
April 27, 2011: Kathmandu, Nepal “Third Hymn to Siva”
Third Hymn to Siva All the way to Heaven is Heaven.—St. Catherine As fire to the fallen leaf and withered branch, set on fire what has been weathered out of me and illuminate what I might be after. In a dark room one turns in all directions and sees nothing, and all the empty words… Continue Reading »
New Delhi to Denver: April 28-29, 2011: Seventh Hymn to Siva
There’s no getting away from death. Drops of blood turned into dusty rubies by the sand. Neither this nor that, she always smelled of lavender, brown eyes with bits of gold—tiger’s eyes, she called them. Is there a shadow behind the closed door? Is it the room or the room reflected in a mirror? By the beginning… Continue Reading »