The Birdsong of the Holy Name

Ananda Vrindavaneswari

The air is warming, the snow is melting and the birds are singing a little louder. This poem is inspired by this time and how Krishna’s name also warms and melts our hearts:

It’s a wonderful thing

the sound of the holy name

like the song of the birds

it moves across the sky of my heart

and sweeps my soul to places it longs to be 

It is the parrot song bringing

messages of love, to me of all people

how this birdsong of the holy name 

touches my small heart and makes it move

with feelings of love and belonging

It is the song of the peacock

this holy name that dances in my ears

that pulls my mind to thoughts of the

peacock-feathered flute-playing lover of the gopis

It is the song of the cakora bird

this name from beyond heaven

grace personified, like raindrops of mercy 

to be received by my upturned heart

nourished by its pure, unconditional love

It is the song of the swan

this birdsong of the holy name

in the stilled waters of my mind

beauty and truth freely given

to call this lost soul home

to a remembrance of a long forgotten love

Oh holy name! Let your song be 

first thing in the morning and last thing at night

and that I might listen with hungry ears

and long to taste all that you hold

with the heart of your heart.