-Toripani, Pokhara, Nepal, Nov. 2018

O it cuts into me…
Your mischievous smile…
Your prettiness beckoning…
You dance in front of me…
You young like a virgin, old like a trusted lover.

Yes, the Tabla’s beat has penetrated
Penetrated us and the whole village
Since the first of morning.
O those young men who rented the loud-speaker lusting for a holiday.
By mid-day, the Tabla had set into our souls.
Set us into its rhythm
Set our hearts to the same beat.

You are so full so pleasantly so,
Your face so pleasant and round,
Your hair so thick and unruly.
You are a Moon amid black jade.
I see you were once a quick lithe girl
Now grown to a firmness of flesh
Round, happy, and glowing.
What soil, what fertility.
It is difficult for me not to stare appreciatively.
And this you know
And smile mischievously.

Crow mentions,” A Tabla is a hand drum and the principle instrument of rhythm for Indian music.”