The Dancer’s World

“Your profession?,” they ask.

“Dancer!,” they exclaim.

Ha!

And Ha!

They laugh in his face.

How is he supposed

to look after his family

they think aloud

in their head and on their faces,

for passion has no place

in their calculations

only a Bharat Ratna

can save him

from their disappointed stares

as they watch his retreating form

going for his next

successful stage performance.

On Kolam Drawing

She traces her fingers

nimbly on the ground

here, there, everywhere

not stopping for a beat.

She must finish the drawing

before it is dawn.

She stops not for breath

she stops not for break

she rushes without a blink

as she painstakingly

draws every line.

It is her first here.

They will judge her

today too.

The new bride

will be measured

by the intricateness

beauty and dexterity

of her kolam.

It is finally done.

Just as dawn appears

and the mother-in-law

steps out with a yawn.

“Hmmm”

“Nothing like mine, daughter-in-law”

“But this will do.”

She finally breathes.