The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 4/Writings: Poems/To the Awakened India

TO THE AWAKENED INDIA

Once more awake!
 * For sleep it was, not death, to bring thee life
 * Anew, and rest to lotus-eyes for visions
 * Daring yet. The world in need awaits, O Truth!
 * No death for thee!

Resume thy march,
 * With gentle feet that would not break the
 * Peaceful rest even of the roadside dust
 * That lies so low. Yet strong and steady,
 * Blissful, bold, and free. Awakener, ever
 * Forward! Speak thy stirring words.

Thy home is gone,
 * Where loving hearts had brought thee up and
 * Watched with joy thy growth. But Fate is strong—
 * This is the law—all things come back to the source
 * They sprung, their strength to renew.

Then start afresh
 * From the land of thy birth, where vast cloud-belted
 * Snows do bless and put their strength in thee,
 * For working wonders new. The heavenly
 * River tune thy voice to her own immortal song ;
 * Deodar shades give thee eternal peace.

And all above,
 * Himala's daughter Umâ, gentle, pure,
 * The Mother that resides in all as Power
 * And Life, who works all works and
 * Makes of One the world, whose mercy
 * Opens the gate to Truth and shows
 * The One in All, give thee untiring
 * Strength, which is Infinite Love.

They bless thee all,
 * The seers great, whom age nor clime
 * Can claim their own, the fathers of the
 * Race, who felt the heart of Truth the same,
 * And bravely taught to man ill-voiced or
 * Well. Their servant, thou hast got
 * The secret—'tis but One.

Then speak, O Love!
 * Before thy gentle voice serene, behold how
 * Visions melt and fold on fold of dreams
 * Departs to void, till Truth and Truth alone
 * In all its glory shines—

And tell the world—
 * Awake, arise, and dream no more!
 * This is the land of dreams, where Karma
 * Weaves unthreaded garlands with our thoughts
 * Of flowers sweet or noxious, and none
 * Has root or stem, being born in naught, which
 * The softest breath of Truth drives back to
 * Primal nothingness. Be bold, and face
 * The Truth! Be one with it! Let visions cease,
 * Or, if you cannot, dream but truer dreams,
 * Which are Eternal Love and Service Free.


 * Notes