Songs of the Soul/Part 2/My Kinsmen

by Swami Yogananda

Layout 2

 

MY KINSMEN

In spacious hall of trance I spied—
Aglow with million dazzling lights,
Tapestried with the snowy cloud —
My kinsmen all, lowly, proud;

The banquet great with music rolls,
The drum of Om^[1] in measure falls,
The hosts, in many ways arrayed,
Some plain, some gorgeous dress displayed.

Around the various tables large
Of earth and moon and sun and stars,
The countless mute, and noisy guests
Observed Dame Nature’s feast with zest.

The tiny-eyed and shiny sands,
Thirsty, drank of ocean’s life:
I well remember once I brawled
For a sip of sea, with kinsmen sands.
Yes, I know those old dame rocks
Who rocked me on their stony laps
When I a tiny baby tree
Did chafe to run with winds so free.

The green-attired friends I know,
With rose and lily buds aglow;
I once adorned a kingly breast,
Lost life, returned to mother dust.

I know the ruby redbreast dear,
My blood in it once flowed so clear;
I smiled in diamonds, gleaming bright,
I danced in Roentgen rays of light.

A ray of friendship from my heart
In diamond and ruby joy did start,
The bright ones smiled, the ruby wept
To meet their long-lost friend at last.

The soul of gold in yellow gown,
The soul of silver whitely shone,—
Bestowed on me maternal smiles
That told they knew me long erewhile.

The lark, the cuckoo, the pheasant sweet,
The deer, the lamb, the lion great,
The shark and monsters of the sea!
In love and peace all greeted me.

The leafy fingers, arms outspread,
Caressed me when a tiny bird,
And fed me with ambrosial fruit
That drew its life from immortal root.

When atoms and the star-dust sprang,
When Vedas, Bible, Koran sang,—
I joined each choir; their long-past thrilling songs
Still echo in my soul in accents strong.

1. Cosmic vibration.