52nd indianKUKAI

beach wall 

a row of champagne bottles 

filled with first light

inverted sunrise 

scorching my eyes 

Hospital tiles

those who are missing 

untouched glasses gather 

first sunrise

Before the sun speaks, 

the dark remembers my name— 

I rise, unafraid.

1st of January 

waking up 

with my old habits

winning the coveted medal 

post-accident... 

first sunrise

their closed windows 

from fireworks exhaustion - 

at first sunrise

shadows break 

birdsong shifts 

to full day

cyclical . . . 

the cold dawn 

this new life

the first rays 

of the sun-- 

solar panels aglow

heavy bank of gray clouds 

just a hint of blue beyond 

first sunrise

ground frost — 

yielding where the sun 

makes landfall

new year's morn... 

orange tinted 

bird song

first sunrise... 

Ukrainian refugees leave 

the bomb shelter

demolished home – 

in the linden’s crown 

a new sunrise

first light – 

on the barbed wire 

dew drops

first sunrise 

new shadows 

with the old

first sunrise 

a temple bell nudges 

a flock of wings

first sunrise 

crowing their greetings 

my new year’s bird

first sunrise 

the ocean gathers 

the stars

first day of school 

at the crack of dawn 

so many questions

harbor cranes 

their slow tai chi 

before color

red sky 

the wounds of 

fallen soldiers

crepuscular rays – 

our cat steps 

out of the shadow

forgiving winter - 

a yellow crocus 

in thawing grass

a glimmer of gold— 

the day begins 

with promises

morning reflection 

shaving the last shadow 

of twenty-twenty five

first sunrise 

stretching my arms 

into the future

soft light on the sky, 

morning opens quiet eyes 

a new day begins.

terminally ill 

father-in-law coughts ... 

first sunrise

orphanage... 

sharpening a crayon 

for the first sunrise

first sunrise - 

I wonder what the story 

is to be about

I still think 

about a typewriter 

— first sunrise

dawn light – 

a red fox 

on the doormat

lambent beginnings… 

i take the lead to wish 

my detractors

over the pyre flames first sunrise

vaccination queue --- 

day breaks 

in the chemist's window

sunrise 

every day you wake up 

to a new you

the first sunrise of the year – 

on the street the wind 

plays with confetti

light of dawn... 

on a thousand dry leaves 

a God's kiss

the first sunrise 

after nights spent at 

the sick bedside

a new year dawns 

sunbeams 

on my yoga mat

The morning rays 

have painted 

my dark room golden.

first sunrise

I remember

my old father

Kanchenjunga awakens 

bathed in milk and honey 

first suprabhatam

first sunbeams 

my new path 

is lighted up

the lily quivers — 

an oar shatters 

the sunrise

eyes drift open 

at the first sunrise 

lovers reunion

winter dawn... 

the gleam of horns 

in the cowshed

a fine streak of light 

slips through my curtains - 

a new year dawns

a door closes 

the loneliness 

of sunrises

mellow rays… 

the first glimpse 

of my new born

every moment 

from seed to seeds 

first sunrise

the Sun's arrival 

white jasmines His greeting gifts 

-koel trills with joy

first sunrise 

from the bare crabapple tree 

a young blackbird sings

first sunrise — 

I keep watching a stray cat 

over her breakfast

first sunrise 

on the lake 

an upside-down world

New Year sunrise 

just like in childhood 

a frozen window

first sunrise - 

first cry of a baby 

in childless lap

crimson threading 

a cardinal’s song 

the first tracks of dawn

morn golden hour – 

a faint smile stirs 

newborn’s sleep

delivering hope New Year emails

hatsumode . . . 

the hush as we gaze 

towards the horizon

crimson sunrise– 

a tired jumbo jet pilot 

asks for coffee

twilight ends 

last call of the nightingale 

first light begins

the baby smiles 

in his sleep 

first sunrise

first sunrise —

yesterday’s nimbus clouds

hanging around

first sunrise 

outside the old age care 

she breathes memories

first sunrise 

back on screen 

vital signs

Kaziranga Safari ... 

a slice of morning sun 

on a sleeping rhino

New Year's Day 

in empty champagne glasses 

the rising sun

first sunrise ... 

tiny hands rise 

to fend off stray sunbeams!

first sunrise 

the toddler used her favourite crayons 

orange and pink

baby’s cheeks 

aglow from ear to ear 

instinctive love

ray of light 

on a blood-stained 

feather

sunrise years ago 

the song of waves 

when I proposed

smoke-choked city 

a newborn's cry touches 

the first sunrise

new year's sunrise 

lights up the frozen pond 

resolutions on ice

first sunrise … 

our bird’s broken wing 

heals

first sunrise 

she gently strokes 

her newborn's head

first light 

your empty armchair 

warms up

blueberry frost 

in a chipped bowl 

first sunrise

golden rays

glisten on her cheeks

first kick

the first sun 

kissing the train window 

war hero’s return

solar deity-

first clicks of golden hues

my son's camera

lungs full 

of first light warmth... 

sparrow hatchlings

New Year's Eve 

I miss the first sunrise 

of the year

fading autumn night 

and cicadas' endless chorus 

aurora's soft touch

the first night after, 

sunrise and smiles 

smudged bindhi

first sunrise 

in a dewdrop the same 

last one

rescued baby Myna 

eyes open to the first sunrise 

and the last

getting through 

that first night… 

the sunrise

first sunrise 

now only the warmth 

of her hand

first sunrise 

smelling of champagne 

first-born

first sunrise 

the old couple recall 

fond memories

first light 

the pull and release 

of a cuckoo's coo

dressed in black 

and yellow socks- 

winter blackbird

first sun

the fireworks continue 

unabated

first sunrise— 

a goldfinch lifts the mist 

from the reeds

recycling forever 

rain to ocean and vice versa 

without her love