Heavens I’ve known, and the glories of night

Discovered; I’ve followed them as deepened

The great darkness into a mystery

That gave birth to countless stars, to marvel

Bright like wisdom burning in works of time.

I’ve felt from strange sudden exquisiteness

Of the infinite a rush of movements

Invading these worlds, ocean-streams of wonder

Carrying legends of new creation.

Gates of life have swung open in excellence

Of the original gods awaiting

The chant of early priests, calm of sages,

That for the sun to incarnate in day

A thousand worships be offered at morn.

Like a roaring flame born in a moment

Shorter than the wink of eternity

Whose swift glance allows even death to be,

In a mood of another climbing thought,

My spirit’s ageless urge prevails all where.

On top of the breathing hill tall I stand.

O the quaintness in the mortal’s bosom

Making guilt for the person to outgrow

Himself, the enchanted authority

That keeps under its spell tenderly hopes!

Nothing of chance now holds back my vision,

And no cramped circles can my paces curb;

An image of the far-away enters

With a leap into my vigilant sight

And is lifted the shade of the fading

Past, needed to exist no more. None hence

Can halt the flight of these exceeding birds

To the skies of silent abidingness.

As sweet as infancy that is dew-fresh

But bearing the will of a fire kindled

On the altar of the Being, surprised

Beauty awakes in the heart of all joy.

18 May 2004

RY Deshpande