Natraj

I)
Bombay, January 1974
I bought a large metal Natraj statue
his arms and legs every
graceful which way
foot lifted and crossed
in front of other knee
flames coming out
of the surrounding circle
a plinth supporting
his sportiness
Feline, Egyptian face
mudra hands
lotus petals hold the plinth up

I bought it because it was beautiful
and did not offend me
with too much Hindu blah
It was sprightly
and passionate
and I loved dancing –
dancing to crazy let-go abandon –

I bought it because I wanted
to spend all my money
so that I’d have to get out of there

That city
dead people in the streets
snot in their beards
feet bare

This worked –
I left –
but was back again that July
never to leave again –

I hadn’t known
that that deity would dance in us
in crazy and gracious abandon
a thousand monsoon mornings
singing through the best instruments
to give our feet wings
whirling us gone, gone, gone
from ourselves,
returned to ourselves,
utterly,
on a cool marble floor smooth enough
to take all our joyous sweeping
arms, legs, hair –

II)
That big Natraj
was sacrificed on the Ranch
to a drive
to acquire gifts for the Master
to give away
when he was in gift-giving mode.
Strange, I know –
our things recycled among us –

III)
But I missed that statue
and bought this little one
in 2009
Now it sits on my altar
gleaming gently
in the light
from my big window

Luddendenfoot, 2024

Madhuri

Madhuri is a healer, artist, poet and author of several books, Book of Leaves being her latest one. madhurijewel.com