DAILY PHOTO: Ohel David Synagogue, Pune

Tomb of David Sassoon, businessman & philanthropist who funded the Synagogue

FUN FACTS: – This is the largest synagogue in Asia (if you don’t count Israel as an Asian nation.) – But Pune has only about 200 Jews. – The synagogue is also called Laal Deval. – It was built in the 1860’s in the English Gothic style.

Canopy [Haiku]

the creek bed is wide,
 yet dark by dome of trees
  that stretch for light.

Pune Limerick

There was a fast programmer from Pune
   who rolled the dice on Lady Fortuna.
 He caused more blue screens
  than you've ever seen
 'til they fired that wild coder from Pune.

Off-Kilter [Free Verse]

woke up,
   stitched up;
 something growing
   deep within

inside /
   outside
 what strange hell 
    is this?

what's this box i
   built within my brain:
 old ideas keeping
    out the light

i read a story,
   made a movie --
 all within my mind,

but something grew out
   that i couldn't comprehend

DAILY PHOTO: Shinde Chhatra, Pune

Plays No Favorites [Haiku]

sunlight breaks into
 the forest -- not favoring
  the tranquil yogi.

World Windows [Haiku]

the world we see
 is framed and bounded.
  what lies beyond?

The Autumn Trail [Haiku]

the autumn woods -
 leafless & grass matted - is
  rife with life, unseen

Transcendent Mango [Haiku]

the season is here,
 and everyone seeks the
  transcendent mango.

DAILY PHOTO: Aga Khan Palace, Pune

The palace now houses a Gandhi museum focusing on the lives and independence work of Mahatma and Kasturba Gandhi, and houses a memorial to the Mahatma, Kasturba, and Mahadev Desai (the latter two died while imprisoned here.)