Ecstacy Poem by Prabhakar Subramaniam

Across the bus's aisle
At the window seat
In a red saree
Sits the Mari devotee
Eyes closed
In seeming ecstacy
Breaking into song
Ever so often
Grateful for the grace
Of the Aadi goddess - -
She catches many
Looking at her
Smiles as they turn away - -
'No one dare face me
Fall at my feet, be saved'
Quotes the kural
On those
Who can cross
The big sea of birth
And those who cannot - -
As my stop nears
I swim through the crowd
Glad to land
On familiar shores.