Prayer to Ahura Mazda

Come to me as laughter, Lord/The chuckle of the baby/Schoolgirl titters/Giggles behind wrists/Schoolboys brays and/Manly guffaws,/Cadences of bonhomie/Among friends, where/Angels pre­side, invisible.

Oh come to me as laughter, Mazda/Sweep away the grey/Of doubts from my heart/Black hurts and/Red rage./Heal seeping wounds/Wrinkled loneliness/And pain, pain/With Thy deep belly laugh!

DINA MEHTA