Short Poems

Until the duck's short legs
grow as long as the crane's—
Until the crow has become white,
white as the white heron—
Enjoy enduring bliss

He who has lived in sunshine all day long,
His happy eyes
From too much light defending,
He cannot duly prize
One gleam of light at the day's ending.

When you go to get a drink,
Do you ever stop to think,
That dogs and cats, and squirrels, too,
Get just as thirsty, dear, as you?
They cannot turn a faucet,—so—
All parched and thirsty they must go.
Oh, did you ever stop to think,
They cannot ASK you for a drink?

Coldly, bleakly, drearily,
Evening died on Elbë's shore;
Winds were in the cloudy sky,
Sighing, mourning evermore.

Away, away, resign me now
To scenes of gloom and thoughts of fear;
I trace the signal on thy brow,
Welcome at last, though once so drear.

Life has two sovereign moments;
One when we settle down
To some life-worthy purpose,—
One when we grasp the crown.

Come, Sadhus, sing Hari's praises; come, let us sing Hari's praise.
Sanctify the mind with meditation, the ear with the heavenly waters of love.
Sanctify the tongue with singing praises. Let us sing praises and be joyful.
To sing Hari's praise is a stream of nectar: to praise His love's immortal wine is sweet.
By tasting it we find salvation, by drinking thereof become immortal.
Brother of the poor, the poor's defender, Lord of the helpless, destroyer of their pains.
His Form is truth, is life, is bliss, at His feet lay down your cares.

So sweet, all sweet—the body as the shyer
Sweet senses, and the Spirit sweet as those:
For me the fragrance of a whole sweet-briar
Beside the rose!

the aged person
wanting to become a tree
embraces a tree

If wishes were horses
Beggars would ride;
If turnips were watches
I would wear one by my side.