("Sum" is the first beat of a time cycle or “tal”.
It is the most emphasized beat,
the essence of the improvisational understanding
in Classical Indian Music)
alap…streaming surs,
dhuns in teental rhythms spin, dizzying maze of tal,
linear diagonal multidimensional sheets of sound,
leading back to the thread, the home, the sum,
and begin again…
dha dha tee na dha tee-
bols, six beats of a profound
placid, passionate, cool summer Ganga wave,
a Sangam sapphire sky,
aahroh to aavroh,
evening raga sunflower sutra,
a thread, a home, sum,
and begin again…
hummingbird hurryup fingers flutter,
tonal feathers fly rubygold colors
dāhna and dagga brush and canvas,
scattering gorgeous light…
and the gharānā smile,
hearing the thread,
tapping to the taal
and back to the home,
the sum…
Delray Beach
Summer, 2008