there is a stillness in his movements     a quiet 

     in the spaces between beats        darkness foreshadowing 

footwork     slow measured tatkar in lamplight

we listen     wait    anticipate his next move

watch     hold our breath 

    feel the silence

a quickening of pace jingle of anklet bells 

  slow subtle movements of fingers wrists  hands

  slow sinuous lift of arms   sway of body

a study in self-absorption    mudras whispering  

I am moon   wind   lotus I am snake   flood   lover 

I am artistry and lexicon

quicker now and quicker     an assurance of feet and bells    

syllables tether dancer to earth tree to cloud 

spell stories of Krishna of beauty and love fear awe 

of war and duty    of the charioteer     

stories told in gesture eye rhythm tempo

the sound of ghungroo whirl of dervish dance

then a slow gathering of self     and streams of thought 

reflections connections flowing into cross-legged confluence 

and stillness 

a purposeful withdrawal from chaos

meditation companions acceptance   of other

birth death arrival    a self-gathering