The Flowers of the Skies

By ‘ANANDA KANDA’

The stars that twinkle in the skies–
Whence do they come when day light dies?
Like Parijata blooms in dawn
Strewn upon our lovely lawn,
These stars are strewn amid the skies
When evening's tinted glories rise;
All strewn there now in radiant bloom,–
But tell me, mother mine, by whom?
"The home of Gods is there above,"
You gave me once these words of love!
The Parijata tree in bloom
Before their home,–does it illume
Heaven's lawn with blossoms shed around?
I know,–these blooms as stars are found!
Blooming, blooming, night by night
They make me glow with sweet delight!
But see! Our Parijata here
Puts forth its blooms that, frail and sere,
Will soon be gone; yet day by day
No skiey blooms will fade away
But bloom and bloom so beautiful,
Light-laden and with splendour full!
Make me grow soon! Let me rise
To bring the blossoms, reach the skies!
Make me grow Soon that I may
Go and gather day by day
The starry blossoms; I will make
A wreath of them for your dear sake,
And throw it round you and in glee
Your heavenly beauty fondly see.

Translated from KANNADA by

V. K. GOKAK.