The Kathakali Transformation

The Kathakali Transformation

I´ve witnessed the Kathakali Transformation

as a tourist in Kerala:

two men transformed by

masks, make-up, dress, incense

into Krishna and Radha,

god or demon,

come to life in their dance

of Good and Evil, Female or Male

Heaven and Earth.

A one-hour tourist version, not more,

yet it gave me an inkling

of what it means to dance yourself

into a higher form

of unity in diversity

beyond the plain appearances of Maya.

About the poet:

Frank Joussen is a German teacher and peace activist whose poems and prose pieces have been published worldwide. He admires all the artists who can work so gracefully with their voices, bodies or with their paint as he says he himself has got ten thumbs and only wishes his "voice" to be heard through his poetry.