The Song of the Free

The Song of the Free
- Swami Vivekananda

The wounded snake its hood unfurls,
The flame stirred up doth blaze,
The desert air resounds the calls
Of heart-struck lion's rage.

The cloud puts forth it deluge strength
When lightning cleaves its breast,
When the soul is stirred to its in most depth
Great ones unfold their best.

Let eyes grow dim and heart grow faint,
And friendship fail and love betray,
Let Fate its hundred horrors send,
And clotted darkness block the way.

All nature wear one angry frown,
To crush you out - still know, my soul,
You are Divine. March on and on,
Nor right nor left but to the goal.

Nor angel I, nor man, nor brute,
Nor body, mind, nor he nor she,
The books do stop in wonder mute
To tell my nature; I am He.

Before the sun, the moon, the earth,
Before the stars or comets free,
Before e'en time has had its birth,
I was, I am, and I will be.

The beauteous earth, the glorious sun,
The calm sweet moon, the spangled sky,
Causation's law do make them run;
They live in bonds, in bonds they die.

And mind its mantle dreamy net
Cast o'er them all and holds them fast.
In warp and woof of thought are set,
Earth, hells, and heavens, or worst or best.

Know these are but the outer crust -
All space and time, all effect, cause.
I am beyond all sense, all thoughts,
The witness of the universe.

Not two nor many, 'tis but one,
And thus in me all me's I have;
I cannot hate, I cannot shun
Myself from me, I can but love.

From dreams awake, from bonds be free,
Be not afraid. This mystery,
My shadow, cannot frighten me,
Know once for all that I am He.

• written in 1895

Comments

• Anonymous

  28 Jul 13
  i like it
• DP Tiwari

  18 Jul 13
  This poem was/is the directions to the people of India to know their culture and heritage as we are the member of the oldest and best civilized society of the universe were living in worst pathetic condition under slavery. Only a few percent is implemented as yet, required much more. For example your may like to refer the author. I hope it is enough.
• vinod insan

  17 Apr 13
  The poem is economically expressed mystery of universe ,calling peace to mind, vigourness to soul,nurishment to thought.
• Jash

  01 Feb 13
  Best poem I have read read.
• Aparna

  16 Feb 11
  v v inspiring lines by the great Swami Vivekananda.
• Shashi Shekhar

  06 Dec 10
  A poem is full of strength and vigour, as was the writer himself; The Great Swami Vivekananda. May this great son of India resides in our heart, inspiring us everywhere.
• Anonymous

  06 Dec 10
  Sorry, its The Poem
• apurva bajpai

  30 Sep 10
  This poem by revered " Swami Viveka Nand "is as emphatic as the poet himself was..... nay the poet is.
  
  May by the blessings of beloved puiple of Sri Ramakrishna we also realise the magesty of soul in us .