Delhi Morning

The early praying of the monks
The morning braying of the pigeons
One hard step on cobblestone
One long exhale
One word
Truth.

The mangy flea-ridden dogs
The dirty lice ridden kids
The beggars with open sores
and hands
One hard step on cobblestone
One short inhale
One word
Truth.

The scent of spiced chai
The stench of fresh shit
The feel of another bead
Shifted with my thumb
One hard step on cobblestone
One long exhale
One word
Truth.

The sobriety of twilight
The artistry in the sunrise
The colors of filtered rays
Through smog
One hard step on cobblestone
One short inhale
One city
Delhi