To Agni   O Fire of God, eater of the sacrifice, Destroyer, raven up the rotting grave, Consume the dead, the wood, the balming spice, Spring forth and purify, illumine, save.   O thunder-bolt speed down, fall fast as fate, Across the pitch-dark sky to the stony night, Where all the murky, muddy pools stagnate, O Grace of God, flash far your sun-delight.   O Love that burns, soul-piercing, flaming dart, Lift high the singing sacrifice, above; Within your red-gold rapture fold the heart, Transmute both mind and body in your love. Page-96

Alchemy   All my being turns to music When I think of Thee; Within each nerve-stream flows the honey Of Thy felicity.   When I contemplate Thy being, My mind's a glow of light; Silence widens to the spheres, I am gathered to Thy sight.   My heart I fling within Thy heart; Strange beauty breaks above; Beneath, around me, everything Grows lovely with Thy love! Page-93

Intimations   Strange songs from far beyond the waters  Come drifting here to our shore; New melodies, entranced with pureness, Woven of moon-worlds' secret lore.   The earth lies silent, drunk with dreamings,  Enrapt within the veils of sound; The magic of moon-chantings luring Its spirit to the far Profound. Page-7

The Hill   At the brink of the abyss Where our limp desires fall, There is nothing more to miss, And nothing to recall.   There is only one more hill To climb, ere all be done, Ere the beauteous Will fulfil Itself in everyone.   But O Love, against the cheat Of this soulless space and time, Be the swift strength of our feet, And the very hill we climb. Page-67

Who were you?   What did you mean, O God, to me, You whom the world's great scriptures quote? — One sitting in lone majesty, So agonisingly remote,   Not all my longing ever could reach Or touch you; nor heart's deepest cry, Nor any power of thought or speech Pierce through those cold walls of your sky.   You might as well have been a Mask; "Existence pure" or "Peace", maybe — What do with these? I could but ask Your wrath to blast my blasphemy.   But no; instead you left your throne, As though you'd seen my anguished eyes, And how senseless all my days had grown; You rose at last and smashed your skies...   A

Charity   Inert and senseless flow on Sin's years, dark as they came; And the promptings of Your spirit Are wasted in my shame.   The reasons and the madness That You would meet and dole, The potencies and prayers, Are bargains of the soul.   Nor question, cry or cunning, Could now avail my pain; Would a myriad million Ganges Now wash me clean again?   When marketings are over, Your charities unfold, And touch the bowls of beggars, And fill them with Your gold. Page-130

Last Evening   Last evening when the skies in fury Thundered over our dull repose, And we quick-fastened all our shutters, Quietly a thought arose:   How sometimes through an apprehension Strange and awkward, we, unwise, Have lost the gleam of things immortal Passing across our fear-filled eyes.   How many flaming thoughts have vanished Unknown, for brains were sealed up tight; How many lovely truths eluded Minds wrapped in comfortable night.   All beauty's lightnings split the heavens, While we, safe home, crouch tucked away; Truth's gold wrath rumbles through the darkness, Our ears are plugged with terror's cl

Flight   Within the tranced night, The flames of souls unfold Their wings of shimmering gold, And to You take their flight.   You Guardian of the Fires, O heart of radiant love, Direct their flight above, Beyond the mind's blue spires.   Shelter them beneath your white Compassionate robes of stars, Beyond the earth's dream-bars. Fold them to your delight. Page-33

Age after Age   Age after age the cosmic scripts unfold The secret destinies of timeless earths, Changeless and changing through a myriad births, Through giant undulations that break and mould Stupendous mountain-strengths, the great gods' hold, And unseen rooted powers chained in night, Refashion scrolls of the designing Light, And trace new lines for the life-charts unrolled.   Age after age — and the flying stars return And turn the karmic gyres and whorls of flame, Vast rings of fire that build, and once more burn, Revolving fates, the same and never the same. The spirit's titan Will splits all apart To reveal the worlds o

Gift   Beloved, you bring to me Beauty beyond compare: The pure, white ecstasy — The hour of silent prayer.   The wells of light unclose Beneath your touch of flame; All memories repose Regathered in your name.   My muted thoughts evolve Swift wings of golden fire; Within your breath dissolve All darkness and desire.   The heavens unfold above, Eternities of grace; Resplendent worlds of love, Mirrored within your face. Page-35