Friday, December 14, 2007

the stage, us and the dance


we were two
in our own wombs
sitting dormant
like dressed mannequins
.
no smell of life
from this man and woman
no sound of breath
just the stillness of death
.
the throbbing of the restless soul
trapped in the hollow stage
insane with waiting for the call
to break out of this spot-lit cage
.
till the old man's worn out hands
beat the soft slow rhythm
and filtered flavoured strands of light
etching patterns on the frame
.
oh, we took life tottering steps
like dancers on swan-off legs
.
steep desire, pain and anger
on edges of sanity
licking sweet danger
.
dancing for the gods we slay
and the little demons we pray
the nests we break
the tears and joy we fake
.
the truth is the smell of sweat
of dance, swirling mist and dust
the truth is the old mans hands
the deafening silence of the band
.

9 comments:

Mirandian said...

The free flowing sketch reminded me of my times spent with a Contemporary Dance Group...long time ago!

As for your verse, I'm trying to decipher it!

And Shoon, thanks for your such positive words on my Blog. Really appreciate it.

Shoonyata said...

I help a contemporary dance group too www.attakkalari.org Check them out.
I am also trying to decipher it after writting it...let me know if you crack it first :)

Prats said...

Just when I thought I loved the lines you started out with you foxed me....now i'm confused and came to know you are too....
Do u dance too???

Shoonyata said...

no..dont dance on stage...on the floor, sometims :)
now on the poem...this meaning dawned on me when I was stiing under a bodhi tree:
===============================
the man & the woman are yin and yang, both lie dormant inside us...struggling to break free, till some external trigger moves us...some beat that reaches out to us, makes us move...many a time against normative constructs (fundu) and killing the gods we created inside...but we still need outside help..some demons to be partners in crime..but while the cosmic wholesomeness happens at the conceptual level, the truth/reality is what we touch/feel...the sweat, the dust...and the consequence of what we do..it can defean you with its explosion or lift you beyond all noice...to sweet wholesome emptiness...shoonyata..
========================
wow :)))

Mirandian said...

I checked out "Attakkalari"...but I still prefer the old "Apoorva Dance Theater" and Tripura Kashyap is still the best! From my own experience!

Coming to your verse & the explanation....
The dark negative feminine & the bright positive masculine principles in Chinese dualistic cosmology together produce everything that comes into existence. The outside influence & the inner strength whether its the yin or the yang which will burst out would influence the course of nature one takes. Remember, the interaction of yin and yang maintains the harmony of the universe.

Shoonyata said...

mirandian: wow!!!! you know, i was just rambling....this poem is really an outcome of an old intense relationship...actually written some time back.
but who knows, maybe i am a philosopher at heart :)))

Anonymous said...

lovely words....you have crafted it beautiful & the feelings are just wonderful...Nice poem!

Shoonyata said...

Kalyan, thanks for the comment and for dropping by

Prats said...

you sit under the bodhi tree ??!!! aaawww...
hey this was the prompt at sunday scribblings too....dance was the prompt...thought of your poem...maybe u could link it there...