A Mughul’s Mad Magnificent Love -The Taj in Agra

HOW DO I LOVE YOU?
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS:
22 years
20,000 paid workers
1 dome
4 minarets
2 mosques
1 courtyardWhite marble only
Several beautiful gardens
Inlaid semi-precious stones
= The Taj Mahal






Emperor Shah Jahan loved his second wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal, the one who gave birth to 14 of his children (including a bad kid who killed his brothers and put his father under house rest) so much that when she died (in child birth- surprise,surprise), he built a moseleum for her- the Taj Mahal. in my neighborhood, we would say that Jahan was "whipped." But no, seriously, love like that is quite refreshing and unique. he consulted with her as a partner on political stuff and things to do with the people- she was his right hand- i found this all out at a super goofy (my cultural preference and ignorance undoubtedly) show that we saw that night. Lots of folks loved the show. I loved the costumes and dancing, but it was way too melodramatic for me. My friends also told me that my the english translation (we had head phones) was terrible.






Seriously, when I walked through the arched doorway to the gardens and saw it, I was speechless. By the time I had walked around and through it, I had to sit down and contemplate the distance between 2223 Poplar Grove St. in West Baltimore to the steps of the Taj. It's been a long way but fueled with the same kind of extraordinary love.




So this is my shout out to Cora and Albert (my parents. Their love and sacrifice. their many years of hard work, semi-precious contributions and their constant tending of this garden that is my life. Thanks. God is good.