48th indianKUKAI

rising sun

the rainbow

in a dewdrop

swimming through her pain 

eyes open wailing first cry 

first light first hug mom

Kyiv twilight... 

ink in the inkwell 

frozen

dark morn: 

opening the window 

to birdsong

first sunrise 

twined into the fleece 

of a lamb

a 

glimmer of 

hope

into 

the void 

first light

first light – 

through the open window 

the nightingale

day breaks gently 

in saunters the new year 

on cat’s paws

pastel dawn - 

an ode to a 

chameleon sky

first light 

a well-worn path 

between faith and doubt

shimmer frost 

the community cat 

stretching her legs

After a decade 

School opens 

Girl child Admission

first light - 

I still cannot see 

myself

first light 

after the first night — 

shy bride

probing first light 

along its narrow path 

Black Forest cuckoo

in the refugee camp 

newborn smiles - 

first light

at first light 

we see the Kanchenjunga 

... ... ... breathless

winter solstice 

a kestrel hovering 

on the brink of dawn

crepuscular rays

a solder's 

prayer rises up

dawnshine 

the turtle of my dreams 

slips into the sea

first light 

she kisses her stillborn 

goodbye

softly falling 

into dove song 

dawn daydreams

conch shell 

the city awakens 

mantra by mantra

his bedmate 

is not yet agitated... 

muted light

first light – 

the newborn's cries 

to his mother

rippling the river’s dark first light

barefoot in the grass - 

in a drop of dew 

all the morn sun

I’m almost sure 

after the storm 

the sun will shine

mountain summit 

a transient diamond 

hails another sunrise

lost pet flyers 

only predawn return 

of the Dog Star

sunrise 

the ring of his coffee cup 

...and mine

through the crib curtain 

the baby’s face lights up - 

a dash of sunshine

peeling 

night from the river 

paperbarks

first light of the year 

a pileated woodpecker flashes 

though the pines

In midst of dark night, 

It will shine right through your soul, 

Dawn of hopeful light.

first light - 

the enveloping taste 

of your coffee

empty nests

the first light of dawn

fills the sky

first sunrise 

a garbage van driver 

pushes the first gear

from the rubble 

a baby’s cry 

light of day

rising dawn 

the piercing cry of parrots 

flying south

first light be… 

at darkest evening 

her smiley lips

wabi in sabi ... 

in the old temple's bell 

crack of dawn

a secret place 

something of this sky 

holding me here

crack of dawn 

a tough talk 

with the alarm

Pink cherry blossoms 

blowing in the fragrant air… 

covenant of dawn

dawn light... 

closer to the tent 

the whistling thrush

disco night 

a tinkle of her anklet 

opens the dawn

strawberry picking 

in my straw basket 

season's first light

the first ray of the sun 

I believe - the New Year will 

restore my life

first light- 

out of darkness, 

my soul

rose gold . . . 

a skein of geese 

across dawn

the warmest day 

in December - 

my daughter's first cry

summer dawn – 

yesterday's stars are fading 

on the promenade

on the edge 

of a dawn sky 

a whole new day

after many tries 

Baby's bare feet meet the ground 

first light

first light— 

I guide you safely 

to the crossroads

twilight 

this journey 

towards self-discovery

propped on the sick bed 

watch the horizon aflame 

pilgrim of hope

first light 

among bombed houses 

white pigeons

awakening 

I light the first lantern 

with thoughts of you

faint sound of a broom 

sweeping the temple steps — 

crack of dawn

first light 

teasing the flax flower 

a tūī's brush-tipped tongue

first light her sleeping face

first light 

still gazing at the sea 

of cars

first light 

moves the clock's shadows 

closer to you

last winter 

behind her closed eyes 

the sun is still rising

down fiery 

turned into torches 

The Angels' wings

Winter teacup 

Vapours dance 

Into morning mist

late dawn of winter 

infant rays, father sips tea 

silver locks aglow

New Year's dawn 

my hen learning 

to crow

first light 

the abandoned bicycle 

covered in snow

barley coffee - 

on closed glass 

sun powder

ganga aarti 

dancing flames 

your eyes

break of day 

at my side 

your absence

we pull open 

the hospice curtains – 

he says he's ready

June night 

my father didn't wait 

the first rays

first light . . . 

each leaf of grass 

with a crown

first light 

a newborn's cry 

breaks the dawn

gray morning 

in the east 

the neighbor's porchlight

donated cornea-- 

the toddler blooms 

with first light

the labor end 

of a young migrant 

first light

after a dense fog ... 

finally the IVF report 

is positive

first light 

enjoying the softness 

of snowflakes

a white peony 

afloat on her stem 

my first scent of dawn

first light— 

a crack in the teacup 

catches it all

Dawns light 

New path 

To follow

first light 

the silhouette of 

a farmer with plough

first light 

delirious all night 

she rests at last

the weight 

of a new resolution 

first dawn

almost dawn 

just enough light 

to fill my teacup

first light 

mom comes 

out of coma