Krishna Consciousness in Holi Times

Passion is floating in the air.
His soul has taken possession
Of Hers

He is dancing in joy, his 'gulal'
Smeared face exuding expectation.

She wants to reciprocate, dance with
Equal fervor on the footpath
In the heart of the city.

Her heart leaps to her mouth
At his touch and arrests her feet.

She stands still shying away
From reflecting his eyes in hers.

She looks away at the setting sun
And a sigh escapes her, a fear
Unknown overcomes the passion
And she slowly gets her hand released
From his hold, her body free she
Moves away and stands by the tree
Lining the roadside and embraces it!

I pass by and she gives a
Smile that hides her pain,
Her fear and her agony,
As she wants but cannot respond
To his call. Faces come in between
Him and her -- faces of her
Father, mother, granny and she
Breaks into a friendly smile!

Radhas are hard to come by!
These are the Draupadis seeking
The protection of the Krishnas!

Can Krishnas deliver?




Notes: "Gulal" is a Hindi word. It is colored powder
with which one smears the other during Holi, the Festival of Colors.
"Holi Hai" is also a Hindi phrase. It means 'This is Holi.'
Holi was celebrated in Kolkata on March 9, 2020.