poems

Devadasi

i was once so weak i couldn't even walk.

Until one night i heard You singing-

and knew had to dance.

Somehow,

even though it hurt

for hours,

under the stars

i found my legs.

and slowly,

my every pain dissolved

and i became limitless, eternal.

i saw myself the way You see me.

Now when i become forgetful,

i listen for the Beloved's song-

and begin to sway, and then twirl-

It goes like this:

"You are free. You are free. You are free!"

Now no doors

The Beloved took my house.

And all the things I loved.

And all the people in it.

Now no doors,

No windows.

He said -

“You’ll do better love,

sleeping out under the stars alone.

A wild one like you

can’t be contained within walls.

So sing.”