Magic Town
.
by
.
Gurudas
________
Oh country village
tulsi forest
named Vrindavan
Even the rocks are alive
for the pleasure of Govinda
the trees
are swaying hairs
twisted in a dance
with the Lord
Birds fly in and out
of the window
of my adobe hut
In Vrindavan animals and humans
interact
geckos on walls
sparrows in the houses
monkeys swinging on electrical wires
bats flying
owls eating
peacocks calling
buffalo soaking
donkeys hauling
cows mooing
camels snorting
elephants trumpeting
horses neighing
as fathers watch
their children play
riding on a water buffalo's back
in the Jamuna river
A clay pot
made of earth
is used and broken
merging back into the earth
A pair of shoes
or winter hat are
tailored from start to finish
children learning numbers spiritually
one God
two to love
three Deities
Brahma Shiva and Vishnu
four Kumaris
five Rishis
six Goswamis
seven Temples
eight Gopis
nine gates of the body
ten directions
Auspicious guides
talk to me within
everything in order
exemplified by
all the new baby animals
that come out seasonally
when it's their time
Positive portents
flags waving
full water buckets
elephants spewing water
saints singing
Ill omens show too
empty water pots
flags drooping
owls screeching
barking dogs
clouds raining blood
the left side of a face twitching
people cheating
We are minor players
darkness to light
eternal prayers
all day and night
We see the stars
and dance in the full moon
Goswamis and ancient sadhus
walked through these sands
and form the backbone
of our path
pilgrims pray
while babas laugh
Let my love
in compassion's ray
uncompromising
as nature's play
come inside me and stay
Elusive Blue Boy
whom I don't know
I can feel your shelter
in this protective place
Why then do I run away
from your home?
What compels me
in crowded cities?
Seduced by secondary illusions
accepted as primary importance
life's cosmetic shadows
mix with soot
neon rays swallowed
by cracks in yellowing walls
Oh green hills I hear your call
I remember forest groves
where divinity romps
and magic pastimes abound
I snuggle in
Your milky bosom
softly I drink your essence
security in every drop
of holy water
Cows freely give religiosity
flowing from Saurhabi's
milky drops
Chintamani
Your touchtone nectar
makes the lame walk
and the blind to see
Your silk like hair
is swaying kusha grass
the very straw mats
that sages pray on
Lying down on golden sands
as nearby Jamuna's river shores
black and white striped birds
dive into Your watery mouth
Kalindi or Jamuna you
flow to reunite with Mother Ganges
getting together in
Prayag's Kumba mela place
Above demigods are
pulled by snowy swans
and scented water fountains
spray in celestial gardens
whilst they shower
us with rose petals
from above
we taste the tears of joy
from the great Rasa dance
as Krishna dances with the Gopis
with each cow girl individually
under the full moon light
Chakora birds eat moon beams
during all night chanting kirtans
I shared my heart
with ex-kings
and singing saints
Encircling you my holy Vrindavan
on parikrimat path
in fresh morning's dew
my bare feet
touching your white sands
makes me weep
Your sweetened countenance
is reflected in your pearly shores
or Madhuban forest glen
playing hide and seek
You offer Annapurna's peaks
like a babe
I wander and drink
from mountainous breasts
In mystic forests
desire trees abound
kadamba and champa
hold the stolen clothes
of the Gopis
as they bathe
in the Jamuna River
lazily we play and love
in your boughs
and dream in your branches
and wade in your banks
Soma elixir divine appears
fruits jump into my mouth
everyone is cared for
like sticks pilgrims pray
lying prone
praying for the touch of Govinda
of Your red lotus feet
on their reverent forms
So you can embrace
and know us all
even the small grasses
jump into place
humbly awaiting your
foot's embrace
heaven's grace
from Your pores
the struggle gone
in your sheltering doors
ecstacy abounds
in chanting dance
oh country village
a magic romance
- Vrindavan, India 1974
.
(Reprinted from Endless Beginnings, A Collection of Poems, 1960-2002)
.
