The Sikhs’ magnificent Harmandir, or Golden Temple, is the centrepiece of the temple complex in the holy city of Amritsar.
Auntie
Respected, rich
Humbles herself
Auntie
Knowing what pride precedes
Hitches her sari above her feet
Auntie
A forward thinking lady
Descends the stairs backwards
Slowly
Clears her mind
Cleans God’s house
For the pious
For the tourists
For the peasants who spend their lives
Swallowing dust
Not born to be a cleaner
She sweeps
Bare-handed
Right to left
Right to left
Gathering tiny piles
Of unholy dust
Each movement
Physically
A speck of dirt
Each movement
Spiritually
A broadstroke golden universe
Of love and hope
Sweeping
Unkind thoughts
Sweeping
Everyday sins
Sweeping
The one thing
No rug is big enough to cover
Outside
Sweet water reflects
Ten heavenly smiles
Nanak to Gobind
Inside
The eleventh
Pauses its reading
And bookmarks
The purity
Flowing in and out
Of four open doors