The experience reminded me in some way of my first trip to India. I recall being utterly perplexed by the sight of oxen, cows, monkeys and dogs roaming the streets in cities I’d visited. When I enquired about this with my New Delhi colleague, he commented on the lack of space and Indian’s ability to cope with crowded city conditions due to overpopulation and inadequate infrastructures. He said, “Well, Skye, we Indians believe in peaceful co-existence when possible. We allow the animals to roam and live amongst us because they have the right to exist too.”
The woman (whom I learned is from Allahabad, India) was gracious enough to allow me to take a few photographs before gifting me with a tree seed. I told her, I in turn would mail copies of the snapshots as a gift.
Somewhere in the town centre of King City exist a little boy with a big smile, and a kind-hearted woman from the auspicious place
where the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna
flows into the mythical Sarasvati River,
co-existing with a marvelous tree
rising from the earth,
through a house,
up to the sky(e).
Chant peace
[sw 1/6/08]