Can't Let Go

I know
You told me so
This is the way to go
And though
I know this is so
I just can’t let go
My mind it understands
But my heart is unable to comprehend

Too long
You held my hand
Looked into my soul
So long
Your cup I drank
Your love for my soul

I know
Your love and light
Will show me the way
Tomorrow
I’ll still see your light
Still find my way

I know
You told me so
This is the way to go
And though
I know this is so
I just can’t let go
My mind it understands
But my heart is unable to comprehend

If only
I could hold you
Just one more time
Then maybe
My heart will know
My heart will let you go

Only In My Mind

I walk across the sky
Searching the starry heavens for your eyes
But you are only in my mind

The stars are not your eyes
And the breeze is not your smile
But your face my heart must find

Across the space of life
Too sweet that time of laughter
Too fast that flash of light
Between the heartbeats of love
Caught in knots ever after
Pain and hope, tears and love

I walk across the earth
Untying the knots of birth
To drink your love divine

But empty is my search
Unquenched is my thirst
Only a glimpse of you in my mind

[written in between...]

A lonesome dancer comes…

A lonesome dancer comes
Flowers in her hands, a prayer in her heart
She has ornamented her limbs
She has adorned her face
And she walks with gentle grace

This lonesome dancer comes
To invoke the enchantment of music divine
Of flute, veena, cymbal and mardal
So that she can dance for the lord
So that she can drink bliss divine

This lonesome dancer comes
And she stands before the shrine
A prayer in her heart:
That if she is indeed Radha
Grant her then, a vision of Krishna
Radha… Krishna

A lonesome dancer comes

[first presented as introduction of Radha Shetty's dance offering at Swamiji's Birthday celebration in Chennai 2004]

Madhura Manohara

a translation of the original song by Swami Shantanand Saraswathi



madhura manohara gokula madhava
your flute enchants me, shyama
how it enthralls me, shyama

o blissful song, ‘tis your sweet love song
on my heart achingly it plays on and on
come to me, love – to me it calls
o sweet blissful love song
ravished and forlorn – why do you test me?
why do you test me, shyama?

madhura manohara gokula madhava
your flute enchants me shyama
how it enthralls me shyama

your song enthralls me, aches fill my heart
not seeing you, longing fills my eyes
how we gopis hunger and long to see you
don’t you see, shyama?
play no more your song, ‘tis enough, my love
please, please, no more, shyama

madhura manohara gokula madhava