Dhaki

Drown in the thunderous roar of the dhak,

I drown in every beat;

"dhum-da-dhum-dhum, da-dhum-dhum"

I erase myself and accept my defeat.

Endure the sore shoulders from the strikes,

I endure the tenderness, as it tastes like a sweet treat.

"dhum-da-dhum-dhum, da dhum-dhum"

I erase myself, I blissfully weep.

I am inexistent, yet I ask, "Who am I?"

"dhum-da-dhum-dhum, da-dhum-dhum"

I hear myself cry-

I am the rhythm,

I am the hum,

I am the friction of the cane striking the skin,

I am a dhaki, 

alive in the percussions of my dhak,

that thunderous roar singing songs of 

the innumerable places I've been.

~ Kripa Sarkar