A Band of Wayward Souls

KTM May 2024

Stumbling around the dusty streets

Drunk on the swirling cloud of laughter.

Endlessly stopping to lift trinkets to the light

Bereft of intention, leaderless

Failing to be exasperated by time

Darting into a series of dark, narrow lanes ways

A centipede in search of mirth and sustenance

I'm so fabulously lost

Spilling back out into the frenetic throng that is the Thamel

A swirling cacophony of disjointed noises, garish lights and... unique scents that linger unexpectedly

Our procession bangs heavily into a bakery, for serious inspection

Perhaps later is the consensus, a mirage in the desert of our indecision

This aimless cavalcade resumes, poking fun at each other without claws

A sharp turn, snaking into an obscure alley, to find a hidden gem

Their naan bread is renowned among the locals. Heaven is within our grasp

Plastic chairs, plastic table cloths, plastic menus

Real down to earth food, from humble folk, who take pride in their craft

Striving for harmony between rupee and excellence

Drowning in a sea of deftly spiced curries

Savoury rice and divine potato naan

Banter brought to an intuitive standstill

By reverence and innate contentment

I sit with one friend and five strangers, yet I feel totally at home

Within myself and within their kind gazes. I smile warmly

It's all I can manage after thirty six hours without sleep

All we have is the beauty which shines from within us

All else is ego and charades, a dance we tire from

Eventually we seek solace in kindred spirits, an affinity for authenticity

Drawn to genuine connections that echo our hearts

I jump in on the tail of a joke to add my twist, a chorus of laughter erupts

Only to be surpassed by the next wry comment

A witches brew of hilarity, governed only by imagination and absurdity

We chink our glasses of hot chai and banana lassi

One by one we settle our dues, gently adding anything missed

Honesty rewarded in kind, in karma

Until a conversation with the cashier turns into laughter and radiant smiles

So sweet you could drink them straight from their shining eyes

It's been eight hours since I landed

Welcome back Monkey Boy

Nepal missed you