Look closely
you'll see them
the hidden parrots
all around Srimati Gandharvika's sari
look there's one on Mahaprabhu's belt now
like the two he heard talk in the forest
look again at the leis of roses and mums
even a couple of sumanas
flowers made their way
in to today's leis
let them form thoughts inside your head
soon they'll take over
you may remember nothing else
out with the pace line
they let Murka and I chase them
catch up to them round the sunny cove
between the lakes to the natasala where people wait in droves
soon comes the darkness
it will creep up on us
take the colors from sight
give more chance for the beasts and Murka and I to fuss
in the approaching night
be back before the darkness
the sandhya begins minutes after susnset
returning Bhakta Blade is the greeter
and he helps them into marakatamani puri
while the devotee is riding on a horse
of a different color talking like a pirate of course
while Murka dresses the small thakuras in the same
taking them off to bed at the end of the night's game
today Mahaprabhu's orange and white remind of cream sickle
seeing that fun gives Srimati Gandharvika a tickle
when she shows her mischievous smile
full rose leis are high on the dial
all the devotees get to remember this fun for a while
when our afternoon trip comes down the curvy miles
over the first highway with the team
when we go over a bit too fast
the whole lot of us feel like we've become free
at the hook and sunny cove it's easy to see
the pelicans point the way to the
evening sandhya of the day
kalarupa is at the mrga bhavana
heading for the kusa grass putting a good hammer on
nurse maid greets along with Kumara
the celebration takes us all far
adbhuta singha the lotus nails are out tonight
their glance will assure us to go on and not take flight
the peacocks were swooning
on a very old backdrop
then the seamstress took them out
put them in a new dress
to be first seen
when the curtain opened on Gaura Purnima
leis of roses and petals
combined with care and attention
following the thakura’s forms each lei settles
gently in position
oldest of all but in a new dress
this afternoon pedaling about
without a doubt
behind the fixed gears
between the lakes with no fears
of geese or sufferers
outside the natasala people in line
as the ratha-bhojana-vrksa’s call chimed
brought Murka to the sandhya
to meet kalarupa at the holler
showing the way to the kusa grass he would foller
greeted by the bunnies hoping away
ceremony of the bells was about to play
in the orange purple and white
the thakuras danced through the night
waiting for the mangal arati
when the devotees would come to be
seen to start their day off right
Giridhari is such a smooth dancing actor
count the mirrors on his chodder
frolicking in the pasture with the cowherd boys
when can I meet with such a day
roses and mums flow together
leaves will help to make them longer
see the wonderful leis made even better by the thakura’s touch
today Murka and I met a pedaler
said his name was cycle babble
took us for an adventure
where the team was going upwards like they were racing
while we were going down direction they were facing
both as happy as could be
cycle babble sang us a song of what more we could see
herons standing under the boardwalk bridge
while the gulls looked down from the ridge
as the trail stopped the three were in Saint Dagwood’s park
hearing the ratha-bhojana-vrksa’s call to get back before dark
sprinting past the fixed gear freaks and cruisers in a special way
sneaking through the treacherous triangle on a busy day
the house of choc-o-lot watches the play
through the hospital lot
past the campa hatti spot
frank the puspa walla
waves and lets out the holler
come in for the leis
our puspa is sure to bring praise
kalarupa waits under the cypress tree
sprinting with thoughts running free
to the lotus feet of the Deity
who is dressing in the white red and olive
deep within the far off jungle with so many blessings to give
when the devotees assemble to dance away their cares
the ganga and yamuna have been flowing together
from the north to the south
the east to the west
in every town and every village
yamuna is silver ganga is gold
now they’re together in this Gaura Purnima dress
when the moon looks like it’s holding a hare
going home? Guru and Gauranga have come to take you there
with jari mukuts and coordinated hars
mums and rose leis whose fragrance goes far
if you’re going home Guru and Gauranga will take you there
pedaling the winding street to Mahamuni’s post box
through the lion’s park up skater’s hill where their stunts really rock
down by the hook where the opals are
cruisers meander while Murka and I are following the stars
between the lakes the geese all honk
we’re still hoping not to “bonk”
at the natasala people are counting down
a new beginning arriving in town
taking leave Murka heads back to ratha-bhojana-vrksa’s song
hammering through the triangle the choc-o-lot house
is quiet as a mouse
campa hatti bids farewell to puspa man
marcedo de las pulgas is hawking bread and jam
kalarupa waits under the famous tree
as Murka approaches with left hand waving free
the sprint begins to become fast
soon they’re at the kusa grass
jumping the chain Murka high fives
smiling Vijaya
the bells will soon be ringing as they do
for the sunset celebration after the shank gives the cue
now the evening dress is on it’s called Hiranya Kasipu
soft and subtle yellow gold for the mangal arati view
they dance the night away
enjoy like anything spreading their affectionate ray
now on this the beginning of the year
with winter on the run be of good cheer
puspa effulgence, mukuts and hars
brought out by the broad blue puspa braid in the trim
leis of roses and mums with gerberas to shy to face the world
with the ringing of the arati bells
devotees join together before the thakuras
to praise the name “I’m a sumanas child” from the puspas it goes
seven pedalers together in the pace line
soon Murka and I join in behind
taking advantage of the afternoon returning sun
playing beside the sufferers, cruisers, joggers and geese on the run
between the lakes and driftwood
over the bridge on the harbor to natasala as we should
round the corner to the cruiser king
fixed gear freak goes by as his bell rings
house of choc-o-lot that talks-a-lot
the treacherous triangle is it’s own plot
along the bright sea to the tennis park
late afternoon already starting to get dark
meeting kalarupa Murka starts to sprint
the creek gives a hint
that kusa grass is coming soon
young lady greets Murka under the waxing moon
vaikalika seva is on the way
in the ninth this evening
with the red blue and purple gleaming
when mangala arati comes round
devotees will be attracted by the sound
of kirtan sweet kirtan to relieve all distress
let him enter your heart
soon he’ll take the whole thing
sankirtana is the medicine
for the iron age
red and nearly turquoise blue
it’ll save all by the grace of sri guru
leis of roses and gerberas in place
still a bit timid to show their face
pedaling in the new year
sunny cove coming up the opals fading in the rear
the harbor is full of boats
the people at the natasala have put on coats
ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls out to Murka to return
he puts on the hammer as we adjourn
meeting kalarupa under the famous tree
crossing the chain the kernel of divine love is there to see
sandhya starts promptly before the stars come out
Bhakta Blade is there to solve the nightdress doubt
Baby blue is true choice
they dance while all the devotees rejoice
in jarikhanda forest
sweet smelling flowering plants
all the animals dancing with Mahaprabhu
in his ecstasy tears drench his orange clothes
today a cape with vest
forty pieces in Srimati Gandharvika’s sari
from Gaura Purnima
leis of roses and mums
center an orange mum with yellow sun rise
causing spirits to fly to new height
pedaling the main street through the southland
till a beast pulled a no look dish
nearly got a Murka in his trunk
“they don’t even see me and I ride this giant”
one beast herder said
oh it made me wonder what could be going through his head
skaters coming down from their hill
also racing the dark for an extra thrill
the opals are staying home
while the ratha-bhojana-vrksa calls for an end to this roam
following how the pelicans point past the tennis park
still racing the impending dark
from over the bridge kalarupa waits under the famous tree
with lights blazing Murka becomes so easy to see
greeted by the kernel of divine love once again
sounding the shank sandhya begins
then in red mango yellow and blue
thakuras are ready for rest this night
ekadasi comes as the moon is getting bright