“O my heart! the Supreme Spirit, the great Master, is near you: wake, oh wake!
Run to the feet of your Beloved: for your Lord stands near to your head.
You have slept for unnumbered ages; this morning will you not wake?”
– Kabir
Songs of Kabir
- Between the Poles
- Do not go to the garden of flowers!
- I played day and night
- III – Hope for Him
- Introduction
- It is needless to ask
- O How may I ever express that secret word?
- O my Heart!
- O Servant
- Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
- Tell me, O Swan
- The Light of the Sun
- The Middle Region of the Sky
- The moon shines in my body
- The river and its waves are one
- The Unstruck Music sounds of itself,
- Thou hast drawn my love
- To what Shore would you Cross?
- When He Himself reveals Himself
- Who will serve Thee?
- Within this Earthen Vessel
Kabir, one of India’s greatest poets, defies easy classification because like the greatest mystical poets his lofty vision transcends religious sects and ideology.
Indeed, Kabir was often critical of all the established religions and sects of his time. However despite this Kabir was admired by people of different faiths including many of the religious orthodoxy.
The appeal of Kabir is that in reading his poems we feel he is sharing his authentic mystical experiences. By immersing ourselves in the poetry of Kabir we can begin to imagine this consciousness ourselves. The poetry offers a depth of mystical experiences and The poetry of Kabir repays careful reading. Often we will get fresh insights each time we read a poem.
Kabir has long been revered in India but it was not until Tagore’s translation in 1916 that the West came to appreciate the works of Kabir.
Tagore the King of Poets is the ideal choice for translating Kabir’s poems. Kabir is maybe more devotional and overtly spiritual; however both share a unique poetic capacity to inspire our spirit.
View: Introduction to Songs of Kabir by E. Underhill