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The Muslim call to prayer
awakens us at quarter to six
in the morning, the pulsing
voice otherworldly and insistent.
We find ourselves in Chiang Mai,
a market city, prosperous and
alive, a religious mecca with
golden temples and Buddhist monks.
The air is cool and fresh,
a welcome change from Bangkok,
and we are uplifted by flowers and
the majesty of surrounding mountains.
As we make our way upward
on the winding mountain road,
the city falls away below, a busy hub
in the shadow of Suthep Doi.
At the temple, we ring the bells,
their throbbing tones rising up
toward heaven, the benevolent
spirits welcoming our prayers.
Neal Donahue majored in English at the University of Oklahoma, then served 5 years as a submarine officer. After his stint in the Navy, he taught elementary school in Massachusetts and Vermont, incorporating poetry into his curriculum. Neal has had a number of poems published in small journals.
THE CITY KEY 