The Song of the Free

This poem by Swami Vivekanand I had read in my intermediate English poetry book......which inspires me mostly...

The wounded snake its hood unfurls,

The flame stirred up doth blaze, 

The desert air resounds the calls

Of heart-struck lion's rage.

The cloud puts forth its deluge strength

When lightning cleaves its breast, 

When the soul is stirred to its inmost depth

Great ones unfold their best.

Let eyes grow dim and heart grow faint,

And friendship fail and love betray,

Let Fate its hundred horrors send,

And clotted darkness block the way.

All nature wear one angry frown,

To crush you out--still know, my soul,

You are Divine. March on and on,

Nor right nor left but to the goal.

Nor angel I, nor man, nor brute,

Nor body, mind, nor he or she,

The books do stop in wonder mute

To tell my nature--I am He.

Before the sun, the moon, the earth,

Before the stars or comets free,

Before e'en time has had its birth,

I was, I am, and I will be.

The beauteous earth, the glorious sun,

The calm sweet moon, the spangled sky,

Causation's laws do make them run;

They live in bonds, in bonds they die.

And mind its mantle dreamy net

Cast o'er them all and holds them fast.

In warp and woof of thought are set,

Earth, hells, and heavens, or worst or best.

Know these are but the outer crust--

All space and time, all effect, cause.

I am beyond all sense, all thoughts,

The witness of the universe.

Not two or many, 'tis but one,

And thus in me all me's I have;

I cannot hate, I cannot shun

Myself from me, I can but love.

From dreams awake, from bonds be free,

Be not afraid. This mystery,

My shadow, cannot frighten me.

Know once for all that I am He.

                                                                               Swami Vivekanand

Courtesy http://www.vivekananda.org

Poems of swami vivekanand..

Light

"I look behind and after

   And find that all is right, 

In my deepest sorrows

   There is a soul of light."

 The Cup

"This is your cup--the cup assigned
to you from the beginning.
Nay, My child, I know how much
of that dark drink is your own brew
Of fault and passion, ages long ago,
In the deep years of yesterday, I know. 

This is your road--a painful road and drear.
I made the stones that never give you rest.
I set your friend in pleasant ways and clear,
And he shall come like you, unto My breast.
But you, My child, must travel here. 

This is your task. It has no joy nor grace,
But it is not meant for any other hand,
And in My universe hath measured place,
Take it. I do not bid you understand.
I bid you close your eyes to see My face. "

Courtesy http://www.vivekananda.org

"Swami Vivekanad"

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to SUCCESS, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.”
--- Vivekanand (Swaami )

"When I Asked God for Strength
He gave me difficult situations to face;

When I asked God for brain and brawn,
He Gave Me Puzzles in life to Solve;
When I Asked God for Happiness
He Showed Me some Unhappy People;

When I Asked God for Wealth
He showed me how to Work Hard;

When I Asked God for Favors
He Showed Me way to action;

When I Asked God for Peace
He showed Me how to Help Others;

God Gave Me nothing I wanted,

He gave me everything I needed."

> Based on the thoughts of Swami Vivekanand