Beckoned by Heaven
After my sojourn                                                 
As Krishna on earth,                                         
I stopped still... midway
Powerless to cross the
place...
 
Shade of mortal coil
Remaining,
Paused I by GOKUL— MY
GOKUL,
Memories of childhood
Uncoiling…
Ever and anon.

Alas, no longer
The joyous natural atmosphere!
Festive ambience replaced
By pall of gloom unfolding
Over TIME melting
Like dewdrops of yestermorn.

No longer
The tinkling sound of bangles,
No longer
The tingling laughter
Of my Gopis— Radhas
each
Mingling with
Jingling cow-bells,
Prancing calves-songs of
cow-boys,
At Eve-fall…

Birds listless, nests unmade,
Boughs lifeless
With budlets drooping
Breaking loose 
Even at dawn
Shadowed by dusk…

And no longer
The melodic sound of
churning butter
Haunting
Me even in Madhura-
Dwaraka…

Drop-scene tragic
To my childhood delight
ful?
Unable to cross over,
I linger… when
Sublime caressing
Of Radha, my spirit-
friend,
Freed me from last vestige
Of TERRESTRIAL MAYA!
 
One in soul, borne by
clouds,
To where Devas, Rishis
Awaited me…