The Heart-stone   Entombed in pitiless dark the years move slow; God knows we're taught to die! in agony The whirlpool mind throws up unceasingly The same old idiocies stored far below. The heart's a stone; could love's rose streamlets flow From mouths of rock and sand? could music be Found in the burial-place of memory? — It's death by inches, as was said long ago.   And yet not death; for still all through the night A strange breath passes down the tunnelled hill; And deep within the heart-stone burns a light, A jewel-flame; the sarcophagi hold A million suns; the tomb-robbers' blackest skill Could not break through and

Without You   In this night of passing shadows, This phantom world of gleams untrue, And labyrinths and crooked pathways, How would I manage without You?   I cannot take a step in music, Cannot climb my daily stair, Or think or move to any purpose But because You are always there.   How strangely helpless is my being Without You; not a turn I take, Or aught I do can issue rightly, If it be not for Your sake.   What is this I? a nought, a silence, A shadow in a world of shades, Unreal like the glimmering figures That walk the wall in masquerades. Page-113

Truth   I do not try to cheat or please, For He knows, He knows; The little honey-gathering bees Do not cheat the rose.   Before Him, there's nor lie nor pose, Who is Truth and Light: The pureness of His touch bestows Vision on my night. Page-21

Two Words   Fold not your speech in wandering cloaks That float upon the winds and sigh, Their liberty is but a hoax, And false, wild freedoms murmuring die.   Tell not your tale to busy ears That hum with drum and mandolin, But only when the deep heart hears, Allow your word to trickle in.   Two words are there: one's the penned scroll And floral manuscript men see; The other burns within the soul, A fire of God, an alchemy.   The scriptures of the world lie writ Within our vaults, unseen, unheard; And still Truth's oracle must sit In caverns dark to speak her Word. Page-158

New Radiance   ...And look, see all: The violet lights that play Upon the hills of yesterday; And today's pink-white dawn, Opening of all roses.   But ever onward stream the golden lights of a future day: shafts of power piercing to the earth's core, vertical descent of divinity deep, far and deep, into earth's core: shells of the sun exploding over the nights of earth, new radiance blasting dead clay.   Broken matter bespatters the stars, The nights in fury arise, becloud the skies. Only the hidden sun-power's pressure, only earth's humble heart of gathering gravitation, silently, invisibly sav

Darshan Day   Are these but vacant thrones or are you there As once of old, when Love resplendent filled All hearts with glory, and pure light distilled The essences of beauty in the air? In silent earnestness we wait and stare, Empty of vision, in dream-darkness chilled, Where vague imaginings gather and gild Pale hopes hanging on nails of sharp despair. — Oh, are you there? Heart after heart still cries The question, as the cold procession winds Past; but through the black pain burst sparked replies: And some, rapt high, see splendid forms divine, Another, swiftly swirling inward finds You seated, lovely, in his own pure shrine.

The Tale   Love, every time you come to me And say you have come to stay, I put on my brief ecstasy, And then I run away.   You ask too much, my heart's afraid To give up all, — it flies, Resumes its old safe masquerade, And hugs its old sweet lies.   In patient trust You wait and call, And wait for many a day; But when I don't return at all, You quietly go away.   And all my heart's a stone of pain, I curse me that I fail: But when, O Love, you come again, I still repeat the tale. Page-55

Agni   Springing fire and dancing flame, Ecstatic to the tips, A-crackling joy-sparks, where your name Smoke-twirls and thins and slips...   Upward and upward laugh and sing, Within the spaceless night, The glory of the Fire-King, His endless realms of Light.   Page-32

-140_Life's Riddle Life's Riddle   One lined the ominous shadows With sunlight of the soul, And poured the honey moon-wine Into this clayey bowl;   With filaments of silver Knotted up joy and pain, In nets of gleaming wonder Dream-veiled the seer-eyed brain.   A mystery and magic Are woven everywhere, Within us and around us, Entangled in earth's air:   The shadows and the sunlight, The mystic wine and mud, Life's purity and passion All run within our blood.   We cross Time's riddling waters Towards prophetic seas, Voices of deep assurance Surging from vasts of peace. Page-142

Awaiting   Beloved, because eternities Never close their gate, Within an endless joyful peace Eternally I waif.   Within my silence, soon or late, Your sweet voice shall be heard; And so in utter faith I wait The coming of your Word.   Men marvel why I do not care,  Or at my patience's store; But You, Love know I'd wait for ever, Waiting within your door. Page-26