this morning the thakuras are dressed
in the feathers of the peacock
and wool chodders last night
so the cold wouldn’t interrupt their pastimes
under the starry light
now that November’s here
they still find the days warm enough for
sikhipicca camara, fan from the peacock’s tail
leis of roses a couple of orchids and funny flowers a little frail
still their smile brings the best of good will
pedaling through the fair wind Murka and I
hear the autumn song
traveling the cyber thoroughfare
speaking with friends walking in the sky
singing of the glories of the peacock feather’s eyes
crossing the land of the opals
to where the pelicans point
the call comes to meet the kalarupa
under the famous ratha-bhojana-vrksa
beasts eyes are shinning as they pass on either side
coming too close where the street isn’t very wide
at the kusa grass sloka slinger gives a wave
the sandhya is approaching now that daylight has been saved
dark blue and yellow
with flower boarder mellow
necklaces to remind of the lion that laughing fellow
dancing all night by the fire’s light
Bhakta Blade is on the scene to keep the embers bright
asking the question
what are the Thakuras wearing today
colors of the sunrise
with parrot mukuts in their hair
gurudeva is our savior
as he engages us in his service
making mum rose and marigold leis
seeing allows our consciousness to raise
pedaling along through the trees
with new flowers of autumn and fire wood smoke murka and I
relish the smells
as we chase down the pace line
up ahead
joining in becoming part of the thread
by the sunny cove then between the lakes
at the natasala we break
on the call of the ratha-bhojana-vrksa
he goes back for the sandhya
dressing them in Prahlad-a-dad
with a fire keeping them warm
till morning comes once again
who would be a jnani, karmi
biksu or a cora
if he knew of sudha bhakti
or who would take the holy name from a “siddha pursa”
if he could take it from the sat guru
the Thakuras are wearing Gandharvika Nayana again
with full lovely full rose leis
pink with sequins, gold and just enough green
to remind that some say that’s the color of her eyes
pedaling through the village where the tourists are in view
over a bridge Murka and I pass the high school
going left the skaters are performing on their hill
laughing with their extreme tricks
they’re getting their daily kicks
but Murka and I are on a mission
to bring ingredients for parama anna
rounding the navapatra keeping the pitch on the right
ratha-bhojana-vrksa has called so Murka sets his sights
racing the setting sun
that seems to be falling faster as we play
chanting aloud under the first highway
meeting kalarupa at the renown mrga bhavana
he breaks into a sprint got to move along
crossing over the driveway gate
the bunnies and Vijaya await to help him on his way so he won’t be late
sandhya has come celebration is here
now the night dressing draws near
pale green and purple shades of evening
dancing under the stars dipping and weaving
all night long enjoying like anything
wear a turban hat like a great Maharaja
a turban hat and a kirta that extends to his knee
pick some roses turn them into petals for the leis
take a bright star and put it in a bangle
when they wear it remember Gaura Purnima
pedaling on this sunny afternoon
from Main Street to wharf road
peadlers stealing one
skaters laughing on their hill
everyone looking for a little thrill
quickly back to go to the other side of the mountain
where Gauranga Sundar appears in laughing lion dress
home again after an hour delay caused too much stress
it’s a lion on the chase the thakuras put on for their night’s rest`
purple stoles for the Easter season
near saint Patrick’s day
arati is late what’s the reason
Gaura Purnima was coming soon
this outfit made for that full moon
happy or even in misery
Mahaprabhu will set us free
rose leis with baby’s breath very pleasing
any other ideas of beauty fleeting
rain clouds over head
keep us pedalers under cover
hook won’t due drier paths instead
thousands of umbrellas hover
effort never ceasing
to take out the storm’s anatomy
that call comes like treason
to meet kalarupa under that famous tree
taking it home not to be late
sandhya here celebrate
wise man knows the lion will appear
like the phoenix
on the nightdress the thakuras wear
on this purnima night
on one November day
we talked of this outfit’s name
while one suggested they are pretty in pink
another said “that’s past your media time”
a few called it wedding cake
floating the idea is looks like frosting with a pink glow
made for vyasa puaja day
Guru Maharaja had quoted a stanza from another’s poem
of playing in the cow pasturing ground
frolicking with Krsna that’s where he wants to be found
with all these circling round
it became Pasture Media Time”
leis of daisies zinnias and a hint of mint
they follow the thakuras dancing in each place their bodies are bent
now as more raindrops fall
and pedalers are in the mist
a team goes by leaving the rest in the fog
quickly the pelicans point the way as ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls
meeting kalarupa at the mrga bhavana
over the field where the bunnies greet
the sandhya is performed nice and neat
hiranya kasipu nightdress is put on
soft and comfortable for evening wear
dancing in the evening air
follow the angels
to find the way out of here
turns into a mess on our own
green with yellow chodder for Mahaprabhu
yellow choli for Srimati Gandharvika
Giridhari in yellow with bit of green trim
leis made from roses with leaves are onederful
and they outline their forms
in the late morning early afternoon
pedaling out of the rain
remembering this outfits name
follow the angels
over the first highway
hoping for a sunny day
dusting the e-bikes who come to challenge
speed gets slower as the battery runs down
tracing the hook with great fun
down the direction of the ratha-bhojana-vrksa
meeting at the mrga bhavana
pulling into the asrama scattering the bunnies
while vijaya silently smiles hello
in the ninth is also from vyasa puja
Guru Maharaja appeared late at night
when the thakuras were all taking rest
after dressing in the red blue and gold
they go out dancing in spite of the cold
as I walked into the natha mandir
saw the thakuras in their fresh day dress radiating cheer
and a young devotee asked me if they have
any outfits of yellow and red
walked up to the sewing room with this suggestion
thought the seamstress might have one hundred ideas but no not one
she was so surprised to hear where this one came from
and a Latin lady said to me it’s so good that the big daisy pompom
is sitting at Giridhari’s shoulder
while Murka and I pedaled away
the sun was gone
now our lights were on
what a way to play
went down by a surya bhavana
heaps of tourists there waiting for a thrill
back out into the night to pedal on
meeting kalarupa under the famous tree
after hearing him call out to me
saw Bhakta Blade chanting his rounds
then we dressed the thakuras in their baby blue clothes
for their night pastimes rings on their fingers and bells on their toes