‘Journal’
April 28, 2011 “Airport Residency,” somewhere in Delhi: “Fourth Hymn to Siva”
I’ve never experienced dread but sometimes apprehension. My biggest fear is I don’t know its name but it’s that membrane that separates what’s real from what’s not. The skies have turned white. Something never seen yet long desired is about to happen. It’s as if a dream has come to life just before blindness has taken over— or the… 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 »
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
In 1993, the first woman to climb Mt. Everest died on her descent in an avalanche. Ashoka, the Nepalese king who brought Buddhism to India, built several stupas in Nepal that are still standing. From these we get a lot of the information we know about Buddha, such as where he was born, where his… Continue Reading »
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: Kathmandu, Nepal “Do Not Fear (Eighth Hymn to Saraswati)”
Do Not Fear (Eighth Hymn to Saraswati) Graffiti seen in Kathmandu: Don’t Cry. Moonlight on the petals of a lily in the lobby of the disinterested light and then darker blue, or sun light that wanders into the forest through a purple cluster of rain clouds, the red in a glass of wine, yellow petals and leaves… Continue Reading »
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 »
April 26, 2011: Himalayan Foothills “First Hymn to Siva”
First Hymn to Siva 3. Who is thy wife, who thy son? This world is extremely wonderful. What art thou, and whose; whence hast thou come? O brother [and sister], think on such subjects as these. —from “A Hymn in 12 Couplets” by Shankara Charya After “A Hymn in 12 Couplets” It’s the same sun… Continue Reading »
April 26, 2011, Himalayan Foothills, “What Are You Not Afraid Of?” (Seventh Hymn to Saraswati)
What Are You Not Afraid Of? (Seventh Hymn to Saraswati) When I need refuge from memories of my past mistakes, I take refuge in you. Every time I fail I take refuge in you, the coolness in water, the scent in sandalwood, a body’s musk, the bubbles in champagne powdered leaves and petals dried into incense, the… Continue Reading »
April 25, 2011: Bodnath, Nepal: What Would it Be Like to be a Butterfly–To Be One Thing and Then Another? (Sixth Hymn to Saraswati)
What Would It Be Like to Be a Butterfly–To Be One Thing and Then Another? (Sixth Hymn to Saraswati) May all creatures be happy and free from trouble.—Buddhist blessing Lord, protect me for I am in the wilderness.–Christian prayer Whose form is both dead carnations and fresh lilies, sunlight that causes the blossoming of all growing… Continue Reading »