dawn in puri

she led me by the hand
through deserted city streets
and before we reached the foaming

edge of wave and sand
i let go and hung respectfully
back as she stepped into those gentle

eddies on golden beach
where briny waters kissed her
feet reverently washing away the dust

of countless centuries.
and as she stood like stone
on that distant shore gazing out to sea

the blood red sun
broke above horizon’s edge
and rose inch by inch into a cloudless

sky and suddenly
i could see clearly through
her eyes as if some window of soul

was flung open wide
revealing everything in sharper
focus allowing me to finally perceive

the unattractive truth
that most lives so commonly lived
are not what i was taught to believe.