They arrive,
At the crack of dawn,
Despite the chill in the air,
To sell their wares.
The baskets displayed,
The fragrance of jasmine,
Permeates the air.
They sit patiently,
Outside the temple,
In a long row,
The jasmine garlands,
Invitingly arranged.
The bait taken,
The flowers bought
From the lucky one;
The envious others,
Try to out bid each other.
After a long exhausting day,
When even the wilted ones,
Have been artfully sold,
The row melts away,
And suddenly everyone has gone.
But the fragrance of jasmine,
Still lingers on.