Nartaki 1 - The Indian Classical Danseuse Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

‘Nartaki' - the classical danseuse
Dances the dance of love,
‘Bhakti'! So pure!
The sweet overwhelming emotion
Intense love for the Supreme God!
When she dances bathed in divine light
A bright star is born
Sparkling and sprinkling the brilliance around!

‘Nartaki' dances with delight
The divine melody,
The honey coated voice so soothing,
Stirring the strings of the heart.
The exotic ‘Raaga'
That floats like a fragrant breeze
Into the vital breath of the dancer
Makes dance a heavenly bliss!

‘Nartaki' taps her dainty feet,
Practising and dancing with persistence
The ‘Adavus'
Again and again, till the feet aches;
The morning springs a fresh surprise,
A new energy,
A greater resolution,
In pursuit of perfection!

‘Nartaki' executes her ‘Adavus'
With measured steps of rhythmic beats,
Not any ordinary stamp or a stride,
Or an uneven trip or a tumble,
But a dancing movement with a difference!
An aesthetic sweep of grace
An amazing ‘Mudra'
So well planned and charmingly performed!