Memories of First Darshan

Do You Remember?

Do you remember the climb up the narrow twisting stairs?
Do you remember waiting on the terrace above the tops of
trees, clutching your bunch of flowers
and listening to the sound, in winter,
of the mumbling sea?
Do you remember those noisy crows looking in her window?
Do you remember then the call and the gesture and the
open door and the room filled with light?
Do you remember sometimes not even finding her for a
moment in all that light?
Do you remember the look? The investigations? Now then,
she seemed to be saying, what have we
got here. And then the reaching out. . .
Do you remember her laughter, like ancient crystal bells?
Do you remember your tears, happy as rainclouds?
Do you remember her silences?
Do you remember her "hey?" when you couldn't untangle your tongue?
Do you remember the fragrance of her silver hands?
Do you remember the touch, as gentle as a child's kiss?
And do you remember her grip when she
held you as firm as the foundations
of the universe?
Do you remember the eternal depths of her eyes?
Do you remember the infallibility of her choice when
she gave you back flowers? And when
she gave you roses, do you remember
the roses? O God, what roses!
Do you remember the way she peeled your blessings
packet from the bundle as if they
were the Lord's rupee notes?
Do you remember leaving, and her crisp and clean
formidable strength going out with you?
And do you remember promising yourself that this time,
this time, you would keep her with you for ever. . .
Do you remember?

- Norman Thomas (Navoditte)

(Invocation – An Anthology of Spiritual Poems selected by Lloyd Hefman and Vignan Agni, published by IntEnt, Auroville, 2007)