A BIRD'S CRY.

In the stillness of the early dawn
When others were yet in slumber,
I woke up with the Lord's name on my lips
And got ready for my meditative hour.

Suddenly in this otherworldly quiet,
I heard the piercing cry of a bird,
Cry of agony that rent the air.
In the background was a chorus of twitters
Of other birds that consoled in unison.

A thought as swift as an arrow
Crossed my mind in an instant,
"Your meditation will be disturbed".
Deep down something chided me,
"Does meditation divorced from life
Lead you to the truth of life?"

The shrill cries of this woebegone bird
Evoked feelings of kinship in my heart,
Meditation is not merely diving deep,
Being blind to things around.
Joy of oneness with all creation,
Sharing of sorrow and happiness is supreme.

Dear little bird, why this agony?
The loss of a dearly loved one,
The sudden departure of a little one,
A physical mishap, with all its attendant pain---
Which of these wrings your heart?
In this darkness all around, I cannot see you.

My philosophy of life, I can offer you
"What is born has suffering".
Lone bird, this perhaps puzzles you.
My heart extended in love
My thought embracing your suffering
These alone, I can offer you.

by Kanagambigai Ranganathan

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