Monsoon Covid Portraits

St. John in the Wilderness' Church keeper

its cross

French musician

Canadian mother

her son Sebastian

less fortunate mother

less fortunate son

Tica awaits her taxi

Tenzin Kunkyi poses

as does Felipe

Kim chez elle

Simon chez lui

Choejor stops for fruit

Madame tends goats

as does Monsieur

tend ME?!!!

not needing tending!

the Barber of McLeod

taking home some twigs

off to meet the Sikyong

His Holiness’s new Archive

baker and her assistant

Ngawang Choephel, musician - film maker

Manu Beigum visits the mountains

with Suhana

former Speaker out for a stroll

with former Finance Minister

Hari, lord of our taxi

Shakshi and Lucky’s mother

Dorje and friend enjoy the new seat

Why?

why not

ok

she carries her burden with grace

he takes a break

his colleague proceeds

and so do I

Dharamsala Monsoon

It pours

we brave the rain

as do others

then fog

dancing among the trees

others dance as well

some enjoy the view

and some don’t give a damn

This young girl must work

carrying bricks

and cement

Madame runs her shop

mother and daughter come to buy

There is a respect for trees

interpreted diversely

sometimes abusively

they roar

undulate

and glow

There are lakes as well

with sea horses

swans

and water

at last

Sapna cleans the room

offerings are made

as Chuwar Rinpoche is coming for lunch

Then tea

and prayers

before another afternoon adventure

With prayers for all

Hotel Lockdown

It rains on our hotel

I photograph

It sometimes hails

turning all white

then clouds float by

Rinpoche is brave

our new friend visits

I photograph hotel plants

our fake ones too

Norbu Tsering cares for us

preparing Sunday momos

in his kitchen

exercise on the verandah

then tea

a teaching by His Holiness

and prayers resume

mine as well

before photographing more flowers

Good night

Dharamsala Lockdown

Morning moon

the street is empty

there are no donors

few people before the main gate

I buy our breakfast bread

no one buying vegetables

or taking taxis

even the tea stall is empty

a friend awaits an offering

as do his colleagues

a reminder

to be kind