Of the Mortal Lot

A dewdrop sat on a leaf

            Drinking orange of the morn;

And sang, “In the mortal world

            Someone is wishing to be born.”

In the evening a glow-worm

            Quivered at the garden-gate;

She said, “Among mortal creatures

            Dearest to me is my gleamless mate.”

A lonely star burned in the sky

            Undaunted by the enormous night;

And said, “Of the mortal lot

            I take care with my deathless light.”

9 July 1998  

What Path of Wisdom...?

A blind man sat there alone,

In the lengthening shadow of a temple wall;

People who came to pray

At the temple told me he was the wisest of all.

I went and humbly asked him,

“O sage, what path of wisdom did you follow

Blind since birth as you are?

Sitting here the way to God you seem to know.”

“Blindness gave me this sight,”

He said, “showed me this path to see the song;

I see God O where you are,

Even as would a deaf hear the loud temple gong.”

And the deaf man told me,

“O hear what the moon says, the stars, the sun;

I can swear as they hurry

They raise a chant in praise of the silent One.”

11 July 1998