Shiva’s Dance
scorches the earth,
fire-lotus ablaze
on clouds of saffron dust

Turning and turning
He picks up speed;
a thousand faces born of dust
swirl and rise up into the sky,
enveloping desires,
consuming worlds,
burning away time –

Shiva’s eyes meet mine:
four flames become One.
Nothing but blinding whiteness,
not even a hint
of my old shadow –
only the dance,
and the white white heat,
undoing all the ties that bind.