Destiny
It's the palanquin
of destiny
of destiny
Swaying its waist
like a folk dancer
in the sand dunes
like a folk dancer
in the sand dunes
Invitingly curvaceous
dauntingly rigid
dauntingly rigid
Attired in black skirts
Alluring yet widowed
Alluring yet widowed
Tapping its feet
Whirling a la dervishes
Whirling a la dervishes
Enticing with its limpid eyes
Warning with its jaunty rhythm
Warning with its jaunty rhythm
Striking a statuesque pose
Not unlike the stone carvings
Of the lifelike Khajuraho temples
Not unlike the stone carvings
Of the lifelike Khajuraho temples
One toss of her serpentine braid
And Destiny can arrest life in her tresses
And Destiny can arrest life in her tresses
The come hither looks deceptive
The oceanic depths hazardous
The oceanic depths hazardous
Destiny is ruthless
Mercy is not even her middle name
She smirks in her silver edged odhni
Confident of her endless power.
Mercy is not even her middle name
She smirks in her silver edged odhni
Confident of her endless power.
The Khajuraho group of monuments are Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India, about 175 km (109 mi) southeast of Jhansi. Most of them were built between 950 and 1050 by the Chandela Rajput dynasty which ruled much of Jejakabhukti (the modern Bundelkhand region) of central India. The rulers claimed to be descended from Indu (the moon), and their temples marked the spot where Shiva married Sati; the blatant disapproval of her divine father Daksha of the marriage led to Sati's self-immolation, and in revenge Shiva created 2 demons from his hair, who beheaded Daksha. The name of the temple complex is derived from Kharjuravahaka (scorpion bearer), a symbolic name for Shiva, who wore scorpion garlands in his fierce aspect. The temples are noted for their 1000s of intricately carved statues, especially for their erotic ones (though these comprise only about 10% of the whole). In "The Book of Love: The Story of the Kamasutra" James McConnachie referred to the statuary: "Twisting, broad-hipped and high breasted nymphs display their generously contoured and bejewelled bodies on exquisitely worked exterior wall panels. These fleshy apsaras run riot across the surface of the stone, putting on make-up, washing their hair, playing games, dancing, and endlessly knotting and unknotting their girdles." An odhni is a shawl-like scarf which is traditionally worn across both shoulders and around the head as a symbol of modesty.
ReplyDeleteLynn Long comments:
ReplyDelete@LilySwarn - Wow, awesome writing! @Duane Vorhees Cool image and as always, love the trivia