Saturday 15 January 2022

Trips

 



Prayer bunting at the Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath.



Every trip’s a pilgrimage, with its own

little sacredness, with its small bunting

fluttering on a chain link fence somewhere

a hallowed symbol scratched on a milestone

vaguely sacred numbers, an ankh, an om

forming suddenly like a fallen prayer

as the light changes, a flash of gull wings –

and every pilgrimage is also home.

 

And each cobblestone’s a bamboo ladder

to some other plane, to someplace else

that smoothens the circuits, and makes gladder

the heart that comes to a standstill and marvels.

Each trip has its own sanctity. Purpose.

Each step’s electric. And miraculous.




I was in Lucknow, Varanasi and Sarnath over the new year and ticked off the original of the Ashoka Pillar, and also a few other things, from ye olde buckete liste. Juuust ducking out of the way of the third wave. Now its back to the same old, same old scary boring pathways of the pandemic. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.  I hope the new year is treating you well. 




12 comments:

  1. Hari Om
    So glad you got to make this wonderful trip and bring it forth in these fine lines... continue to dodge, Nila and stay well! YAM xx

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  2. Simply beautiful. Some other place, some other time. Keep dodging dear friend.

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  3. Hi Nila - so pleased you were able to get away and to see these ancient sites ... fascinating part of the world. We need to find our quiet in these difficult times ... stay safe - with thoughts - Hilary

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    1. Yes, we do indeed need that down time more than ever now after two years of this caper. Sending hugs.

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  4. Glad you got in and out before this next variant. It's zapping everyone here regardless of being vaccinated or not.

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    1. Its zapping everyone here too, the numbers are unbelievable. So much hardship, entire industry sectors reeling at the impact.
      You and yours stay safe and well.

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  5. I was reading on my phone and my comment wouldn't go through. Now I forget what it was. Last week I had a flash of believing that this would end. That feeling is gone now, but after all the influenza epidemic did end in 1920. Right??

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    1. It will have to end sometime, can't end soon enough for me! I too briefly thought 2022 would be it but apparently not...

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  6. Sounds like a lovely pilgrimage - nice to tick off bucket list places and be able to stop and marvel. Your poem captures this nicely. We are still dodging it (fingers crossed). Take care and be well.

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    1. Dodging will be the modus operandi for this year as well...(sigh!) Stay safe and well.

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