The Sacred Act

Eyes meet and Lock—
The drummer chalks his drums,
Nataraj ties his ghungroo
And form his position—
Pause—
Begin the ghungroo and the drums—
Rum jhum rum jhum—
Dha dhin dhin dha, na thin thin na—
The drums like an oncoming monsoon cloud—
The dance of Shiva: Increasing momentum
The dance of Shiva: Twirling and spinning—
Closer and closer—A touch and a shiver,
The room whirling—
Nataraj’s feet: a blur—
Drip, drops the sweat of the drummer onto the drums:
Drim drim na, thete kete thethang—
Mingled breath: short rapid intakes,
The rhythmic beat of the drum
Pulsates through the enclosure
The walls, the lamps, dance with Shiva
Twirling and spinning, the earth whirling—
And then, with His final pose— separation—
Came down the rain—
The indications of the night
To be washed away.