Morning rituals

To bathe
clothe
and drench
a shivering tulsi plant
out on the balcony
in torrents of
chilled water
from a brass lota
preferably
with arms raised
making the waterfall
seven foot high

If the tulsi dies
replace it with
a new plant
next summer

Even an empty
potful of
cold sludge
will suffice

Chanting
reaches
heavens
anyways

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Someone has washed
the brass shivling
early morning
still glistening

Same someone
(Probably )
has lit
a multi tiered
diya
in reverence
now the fragrance
and flicker
reach the road
bellies
of a soot darkened
sanctum sanctorum
open to view
by the jogging few

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