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ON THE SEA'S BOSOM
by Swami Vivekananda

 

In blue sky floats a multitude of clouds --
White, black, of many shades and thicknesses;
An orange sun, about to say farewell,
Touches the massed cloud-shapes with streaks of red.

The wind blows as it lists, a hurricane
Now carving shapes, now breaking them apart:
Fancies, colours, forms, inert creations --
A myriad scenes, though real, yet fantastic.

There light clouds spread, heaping up spun cotton;
See next a huge snake, then a strong lion;
Again, behold a couple locked in love.
All vanish, at last, in the vapoury sky.

Below, the sea sings a varied music,
But not grand, O India, nor ennobling:
Thy waters, widely praised, murmur serene
In soothing cadence, without a harsh roar.



SWAMI VIVEKANANDA (1863-1902) was born Narendranath Datta in Calcutta and became a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. On a three-year visit to the United States and Europe, he made a profound impression with his doctrine of combining spiritual consciousness and social responsibility. During his travels, he brought Vedanta to the West and adopted the name Vivekananda, or 'bliss discernment.' He founded the Ramakrishna Mission and wrote several books on Yoga and Vedanta. He died in 1902, at the age of 39. Swami Vivekananda composed this poem in Bengali during his return from his second trip to the West.

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