Kabir Poems

Tell me, O Swan, your ancient tale.
From what land do you come,
O Swan? to what shore will you fly?
...

The light of the sun, the moon,
and the stars shines bright:
The melody of love swells forth,
and the rhythm of love's detachment beats the time.
...

Friend, hope for the Guest while you are alive.
Jump into experience while you are alive!
Think... and think... while you are alive.
What you call 'salvation' belongs to the time before death.
...

Friend, wake up! Why do you go on sleeping?
The night is over— do you want to lose the day
the same way?
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I played day and night with my comrades,
and now I am greatly afraid.
So high is my Lord's palace,
my heart trembles to mount its stairs:
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The bhakti path winds in a delicate way.
On this path there is no asking and no not asking.
The ego simply disappears the moment you touch him.
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His death in Benares
Won't save the assassin
From certain hell,
...

When he himself reveals himself,
Brahma brings into manifestation
That which can never be seen.
As the seed is in the plant,
as the shade is in the...
...

I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty

You don't grasp the fact that what is most alive of all
is inside your own house.
and so you walk from one holy city to the next with
a confused look!
...

Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
When I gave up the tying of ribbons, still I tied my garment about me:
...