I sit in meditation at the thakura vari
Janmastami is coming and a new dress too
Devotees are friendly at the math where the flag flies high
All kinds of rickshaw wallas they go pedaling by
Time is conspicuous by its absence
Kick off those sad shoes to let bare feet go on parikrama
An excuse to laugh and listen to what the devotee children says
The kids give a clue for the outfit for Janmastami day
“What about red and yellow maybe mango for Mahaprabhu? Do they have those colors yet?”
neither the three-legged dog nor the cat whose name is shadow
can carry a message to the seamstress
and all the people know that cell phones don’t work here
With leis of mums, roses, leaves and a sumanas or two offered by the lazy pujari’s hand
So red, yellow and mango it is from a long ago janmastami day
More manasa pedaling until the ankle returns the high way is open and lots gets done today then it’s time for the vaikalika and Murkha returns to the sound of the reveille horn
Baby blue, a heavenly nightdress with chodders for even though the calendar says that spring should be well on its way, old man winter refuses to yield.
Thakuras on their teakwood asana can put one in a trance
Without a care for outsiders evoke a stately dance
Question arises “would a red back drop make too much pop?”
“That might just make you want to get up and scream!
Do you know what I mean?” seamstress asks
Abuela made the leis with roses, orchids and roses
A loving task
On the manasa trail cause the ankle won’t allow anything more
The highway is open at the navapatra where pedalers of all stripes are congregated. Quick it’s time for the ratri kalina murkha reminds so dash away to the long and winding where the ratha-bhojana-vrksa turns him over to the kalarupa to get him there on time with the sloka slinger acting as the greeter.
“Shiver me timbers,” says coach it’s so cold that the biggest chodders are in order. He speeds to his kutir leaving murkha there to help them into their marakata Mani puri nightdress and tuck them into bed.