Lessons From Pokhara

And some might ask,

“What can one learn in four days?”

Of resilience and survival,

on the street, everyday, a single ear of corn at a time.

Of fellowship

and fresh air.

Of the necessity of child’s play,

always and everywhere.

Of mother’s love,

intimate and transcendent.

Of youthful dreams,

Rohit, hoping to study in America, perhaps Iowa.

Of graciousness,

Prabin serving masala tea each morning at the Mountain Villa.

Of new found friendship,

Ujjwal, sharing his life story and passion for service.

Of hospitality,

Sushma and Ujjwal, their daughter Sudeshna and family friend Chris, sharing food and drink of the Nepali kind.

Of guidance,

from a little man with a big heart,

keeper of goats,

head of family,

grandparent of a new arrival

with his wife, Sushmaya.

Of the transience of evening light,

And of eternity,

the great mountain looking down on all that ever was,

only the stones remaining of those who worshipped Kali.