our guruvarga have brought the way out of here
says the thakura in the kirtan
mukuts, chodders and sari pleats
beading them is no small feat
all the devotees were excited
by this red and teal dress
there are many who think it is their best
now Murka and I are pedaling through the trees
where all the birds and beasts sing and dance
going down the main street fixed gear freaks were in view
as errand runners darted in and out casual pedalers too
with the campa hatti on the right
the hospital curve comes in sight
where Murka and I go around to the tennis park
between the lakes the geese are honking at folks out on a lark
then from off in the distance the ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls
sandhya is approaching and Murka has to haul
kalarupa follows to the gate
where OPT is sitting in wait
as the night falls the lion laughs
when Bhakta Blade joins the staff
placing the puspa effulgence over head
and inviting them to bed
creamy yellow and blue
for nrsimhacaturdasi
thakuras so beautiful in each new dress
seamstress and crew know just how they want it
comes together so smoothly all around
look closely parrots are hiding within
look closely maybe you can catch them again
everyone’s asking the name
yantra puri seems tame
a hammer as much as possible
from the town through the park
clock is ticking on a cloudy afternoon
got to get back for the sandhya
and the thakuras will love it if you do
ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls out about the shop
and Murka needs to turn it up a notch
bunnies greet him as he turns
at the famous kusa grass
pralahad –a-dad
orange with a panel skirt
resting for mangala alert
when it’s time to awake
the thakuras
beginning in the same way
see the panjika says it’s amavasya day
you know that means
honey bees will come to play
on Srimati Gandharvika’s veil
showing themselves in the mirror
will give all good cheer
madhuvrata the name of the dress
as the dressing is complete by putting on the rose leis
madyakalia arati spins the room
in the bhoga arati giti tune
spinning Murka and I go on our way
over the first highway
right on to the bay
we’re singing a song
blending in as the team goes along
at the natasala a line
goes down the street
getting back for vaikalika will be quite the feat
ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls Murka home
kalarupa follows him not to feel alone
vijaya is there to greet
the sandhya comes making day complete
adbhuta is tonght’s dress
orange and green they’re ready for rest
to be seen at mangal arati
devotees dance as the thakuras appear
in electric green and purple outfit and the arati started on time
curtain opened as the clock chimed
today’s leis of roses marigolds mums and babies breath
move sweeping away all the material grime
just see the zigzag pattern
repeat in all three
like the movement of a serpent
truth travels in a crooked line
as it comes from up to down
hammering Murka and I are heading for the other side of town
the lion’s park is almost empty save for a few worshipers of the sun
at the top of skater’s hill the boys are having fun
still Murka and I are going through the sunny cove evening sky is red
legend has it that there’s a good day ahead
from the natasala and the shop
ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls out to stop
heading the words Murka gets on a roll
meets kalarupa and chases him to the goal
as the day ends
and night begins
it’s an orange dhoti for Giridhari
sign of a brahmacari
next to him Srimati Gandharvika has an orange choli
while Mahaprabhu dhoti is white
ready either to take rest
or dance all night
the smooth dancing actor on the simhasana
looked upon all with his smiling face
he heard the prayers from their inner most spaces
in their heart of hearts
the seamstress made this outfit of yellow and purple
with Gandharivka’s ruffled skirt
and she added one hundred looking glasses
reflecting their dedication
mum and rose petal leis from puspa frank the flower man
and Murka and I take off for the afternoon rounds
frantic hammering pedal racers
crossing the first highway
looking over the beasts there
then we went through the treacherous triangle
and saw strawberries dipping in choc-o-lot
ratha-bhojana-vrksa
with words so warm still calling
so not to miss the sandhya
where the sugmeister general salutes
as Murka steps lively to make the ceremony
exchanging lines with the jokers
the wise man is contemplating
teachings of the phoenix
checking his watch waiting with
the devotees in the temple
wonder when the lion will appear
together they hear the priest
laughing aloud from behind the curtain
white and gold colors chose
by SGM himself for their Vyasa Puja clothes
crystal mukuts Giridhari has a turban too
button mums with rose leis some even turn their face to look at you
voices praise come from this point first
so call this one across the universe
pedaling round the south breeze in my locks
passing Mahamuni’s post box
in lion’s park they’ve had their fill
skaters thrill atop their hill
still Murka and I sprint to the hook
spinning to where the pelicans point and have a look
ratha-bhojana-vrksa makes the call
so Murka meets kalarupa and up the gentle incline they haul
bunnies stop to say hello
even two of a kind slow
sandhya celebration comes
with no one there to beat the drum
silk and cotton golden yellow
a nightdress so soft and mellow
so they can dance and may not even touch the pillow
if the full moon came to shine
a week early never mind
when the devas came to see
it set them free
all the maths round the world
dressed the thakuras in the same color scheme
now instead of one chodder there are two
with short rose leis too
white helmeted pedalers hammering down the street
hoping soon the beasts will run out of fuel
but they’re going between the lakes
where the geese honk as the sufferers bake
pedal on pedal on
as Murka and I make the corner the ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls
come back for the sandhya Murka we’ll have a ball
the famous R.V. is the welcoming committee
and in the ninth the mercy grows
in the land where the Ganges flows
the flag flies high
inviting folks from all over the world to come by
greet the thakuras when they rise
from bed opening their lotus eyes