Impact

photo of a dog lying on the groud, its head propped up, looking at the photographer — One of the many dogs in my dad’s village

Loyalty follows
when a soul is fed, watered,
spoken to gently.

Guard

Photo of a massive tree by the side of a stone house in a village

A sole guardian:
valiantly by the village,
stood the ancient tree.

Drive

A slap in the face;
driving along the highway—
greenery up close.

Standing

Swallowing the sun,
she oak stands tall—furious
as her home is burned

Observer

photo of a dried up river bed in Trichy, South India

Dried up river bed,
staring at the horizon—
with a mind as blank.