Love, lila and laughter

You laugh when someone slips on the ice.

You cry when you break your ankle falling from bikes.

You laugh when mother-in-law strokes you with two hands.

You frown when she yells, slams doors and reprimands.

I stroke my cat, Rati…she licks my hand.

I stroke my cat Rishi who once or twice gave me love bites.

I answer the door when the musicians arrive,

begging for rupees and rice, I close the gate at the north-side of the house

When thieves thinking it to be a back-door to wealth, think to arrive.

The wind blows everywhere. The willow weeps in the side-swept breeze

The cherry blossoms fall under foot, a few dancers meet, both holding tight.

And tango to the sound of the flute, while nearby a cow lows a low note.

My folks await, ever- sweet - at the Garden-Gate of Cordova

I fasten my kimono-dress… twist up my hair, without rest I

leave the suave lair of my household affairs and run to your feet… bowing down,

I embrace with my hair. /You laugh, give a soft push and ask,

when will you stay ‘home’ and perform daily rituals of shanta-rasa,

do the pujas of mirth, watering the begonia, Lighting the lamps, feeding the 

Heart, feeding the cats, softening the beds and answer 

The i-phone set to a recitation of Sutra- kama-rasa.

Yes! See yourself in the affairs of everyday life… when I myself

am the presence of ‘I am’ in the House of Sat Sundaram -vasa.

(text and song by Rishika R.Devi, April 7th, ekadashi, 2021, New Gokula Dhaman)