SEA

(A TRILOGY)

I

SEMBLANCE

It is a watch-glass

That rests on a point

Of the curved earth:

In the hollow glass

Remains the mercury-ball.

Forces jerk the glass

Which stirs the ball–

Teases, tempts, and drives–

But does not let it go

Out of the open prison.

Timely club descends at last,

Beats the glass into fragments

Which disappear into the void;

Splashes the ball into bits

Which merge with the Cosmos.

II

ESSENCE

Your clasp fills me with bliss

Of beauty’s deathless kiss;

Your strong pulse beat

In my sick heart;

Your feelings spring

In my dead mind and sing.

Your heavy breast on me appears

As canopy of cosmic stars;

Your hard lap under tickles me

As the rosy couch of Beauty;

Your hot breath Bashes into me

As the dazzling fire of Glory.

Every cell or mine shakes

Purged of mundane life-strokes

Oh my spirit leaps up

To heights unknown in your tight grip.

I yearn to be with you ever,

Adversity, my Dear!

III

ATTAINMENT

You seem to be a shifting clerk,

Knew not the stages passed so far;

Serve now in this black office burdened much

With files–of ages, earned, enforced–

To clear them all through life, and free;

But strive to cross the high wall of records:

Into the Office dark of stories three;

And work sane ego through intrigued

First floor; and rise to second floor and search

For that bright stair which leads to the third floor,

And gleam through that high arch the azure Boss

Who gives retirement from the office black.

–DB. K. V. S. MURTI

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