Turning Blue

There are Hindu gods with blue faces.
I remember seeing them in illustrations.
Maybe they got that way from talking too much;

“I try talking to you until I am blue in the face.”

Maybe they weren't talking.
Maybe they were dancing to ragas
Swift as winds in hurricane skies,
as currents in swollen rivers,
as avalanches of thought;
multiples of arms, legs,
toes curled,
multiples of hands,
thumbs on forefingers,
a way to calm themselves,
get their ya-yas out,
attempt union,
dance their way into the Good Kingdom.

No, it is not from talking
that they have blue faces;
it comes from pain,
unable to slow the raga,
unable to catch one's breath
when dancing so hard and for so long.