Chapter (অধ্যায়): ON THE SEA'S BOSOM PAGE-180Page: 180 of 519

ON THE SEA'S BOSOM1

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.

 



Foot Note:

1     Swami Vivekananda composed this poem in Bengali during his return from his second trip to the West. At the time of writing it, he was probably crossing the eastern Mediterranean.