All About Chammakkam and Rudhram

[RamanathanSiva]

Who says stories of Centaurs belong to
Roman and Greek mythology
that had a mix of body parts, where
a headless body grew a head
and life came about, man and beast?

Parvathi sculpts her Lord, Dhaksha
cuts off his head; Parvathi garlands
the headless body, the sculpture
becomes whole and perfect.

Woman, how could you have loved
this dark God, crematorium dancer
whose ash was dispersed,
all those tempos to dancing
flinging of arms, legs, heads of Asuras?

Woman Goddess who had the guts
to outstep your father’s temper
float into the land of mountains?

Shiva already had Ganga up his sleeve
quickly he shoved her into his matted hair
you rested comfortably on his thighs.

I did not know ‘Chamakkam was the cry
the blah blah, yah yah of the sacrificial goat
Rudhram the music, the chimes of the rusted bell.

[CalebMurdock]

If your poem isn't getting a response, it may be for the same reason that I hesitated until now: I just don't have enough knowledge of mythology and the classics to judge it properly. However, I do like the strong, well-cadence language. When I learned Greek and Roman mythology as a young person, it didn't excite my imagination. I couldn't relate to the characters, and I remember saying to myself, "This is ancient fiction" -- and with that, I gave myself permission not to retain it. What little I have retained came from the movies.