Preface: I became familiar with Kabir from Rabindranath Tagore's Songs of Kabir (1915) when I bought Tagore's Gitanjali: Song Offerings (1912) on July 22, 1963 after graduating from Columbia. I included Tagore in my Poetry Anthology (2007) as one of Robert Pinksy's Workshop assignments. In addition to Tagore's translation of Kabir, I also read Songs of Kabir from the Adi Granth (1991) translated by Nirmal Dass, and The Bijak of Kabir (1983) translated by Linda Hess & Shukdev Singh. When a friend told me about the Iraq war protest, I composed an anthology Peace Be With You (2003) including 52 poets on peace. I selected five Kabir peace poems. In his Sakhi 57: Of Peace, Kabir sings: "Formerly my heart was a crow / Which used to kill the birds, / Now my heart has become a swan / That pecks and eats pearls one by one." I love this image of transformation from black crow to white swan, and Kabir becoming one with the Pearl of Great Price. Legend has it that Kabir (1398-1518) lived to 120 years of age. The Chinese Zen Master Chao Chou (778-897) also lived to 120. When a monk asked "During the 24 hours, how is mind put to use?", Chao Chou replied: "You are used by the 24 hours; I use the 24 hours. Which of these 'times' are you talking about?" Both of these sages understood the timeless, which may explain their longevity. Robert Bly read eight Kabir poems to Stanford students in his Poetry Workshop on April 9, 2008. He also gave us a 15-minute poetry writing exercise starting with a line from Kabir: "Friend, wake up! Why do you go on sleeping?" We were all inspired and had a good writing session. Here is the poem I wrote. Afterwards, I returned to the Green Library and composed this web page in honor of Kabir, the enlightened poet-sage. (Peter Y. Chou, 4-9-2008) |
Oh friend, I love you, think this over
Oh friend, I love you, think this over ******************************* I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty
I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty ******************************* I talk to my inner lover, and I say, why such rush?
I talk to my inner lover, and I say, why such rush? ******************************* Friend, hope for the Guest while you are alive.
Friend, hope for the Guest while you are alive. ******************************* I said to the wanting-creature inside me
I said to the wanting-creature inside me: ******************************* Knowing nothing shuts the iron gates
Knowing nothing shuts the iron gates; ******************************* Friend, wake up! Why do you go on sleeping?
Friend, wake up! Why do you go on sleeping? ******************************* The spiritual athlete often changes the color of his clothes
The spiritual athlete often changes the color of his clothes,
Kabir (c. 1398-1518), ******************************* Web Links to Kabir
Wikipedia: Kabir |
© Peter Y. Chou, WisdomPortal.com P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email: ![]() |
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