indecent exposure

caught in a flash
the young man
a metal cup in his hand
tripping on a rock
in the background an indian scene
robbed of colour or poison
stained by the butter fire
riddled with serpents

caught in his hand
the fire, the serpent
a moment of squirming electricity
then released and lost
to quiver out across reality
the unblinked eye
the clock caught motionless
and without pardon

a tiger's tail caught in flame
an ancient temple
more ancient - the air inside
stroked by the lungs of sages
respiring the ageless mantras
loosening the binding maya
allowing a burden to fall
crashing onto the stones