Then And Now

I used to wake up late Late from the tiredness of rat race party hangovers

My morning alarm was the rude banging of our maid angrily beating the already burnt pans

I would wake up to the smell of the municipality van having no space left to take away the litter of human civilization

And sometimes I would spring back to life, sniffing the burnt toasts popped to leave forgotten

My morning yoga would be deep breaths taking carbon monoxide and releasing dioxides

I would meditate to the sound of thousand horns and screeching wheels of the traffic overtaking competition...

I wake up early now Because I don't have a race to run.

I wake up to wake up my partner, to see the morning orange sun

My morning alarms are the songs sung by never seen before birds, perched on every tree

My drowsiness is drowned quickly in the Indian magic flavors floating out of every kitchen window in the entire neighborhood

I meditate to the synchronized rhythm of woks being hit by turners

I can hear no horns, but laughter and kitchen utensils, somewhere water gushing down the pipes...

I can see the clear morning blue sky and many constellations embroidered on its evening blanket

I breathe in peace and release joy, perhaps adding more oxygen to this already greener earth.