Sunrise at Dar Ul Fazl.

4.16.10.

Jagged, snow-tipped outlines

Neighbor the well-worn hills of Manali..

Old and new are here in this place.

Sing, sing, sing.

Early to rise, a flocking chorus of birds

One, two, then six.

Songs echoing off the concrete walls of this third-story porch.

Early to rise, their story lines

Meet the new light of the morning.

The cracking of open doors and

Clanging of window panes from nearby homes..

Families beginning the day's routine.

Clip-clop, as the workhorse is drawn from its slumber.

Early to rise, a young boy

Brings the water pail to the front garden,

Bringing life to what will grow in the Indian sun.

Soon the small girls will stoop over and,

clasping their tiny hands in another's,

begin to form sounds of wonder and awe

as they choose which color will best fit the day.

Early to rise, the voices of tenants

Are slowly blending into the melodies

Already begun by nature's trumpeteering vagabonds -

Those who have already sounded

The morning's first notes of rejoice and bewilderment.

Not long now until the sleepy eyes of children will wake to this day,

Fresh and anew with places for learning and growing..

And we will all sit together with

Heads bowed, giving thanks for the

Song of morning.

Amen.