I Am Deathless Poem by P K Joy

I remember vividly all of my previous births.
You may call it myth. But it’s entirely a truth.
First, in the court of God I lived as a versifier.
Later, I’d several births as ordained by the creator.

When this part of the universe, the world,
Was being made, praising the brilliance of God
In design and construction, I composed a new song
Every night, and to Him in the morning I sang.

My songs didn’t carry hollow flattery. They’re genuine
Paeans on God’s enormous creative genius.
He dislikes flattery, but acknowledges sincere praises.
So He kept off many poets, but listened to my verses.

Often, when over-worked, He listened to my hymns
And relaxed under their spell, twanging His harp strings.
Even today He recalls my verses from the outer-space,
And listens in tranquility to my verses of truthful praise.

Pleased with my humbleness, God gave me a boon.
When the world was ready, he made me a servant of man,
To serve and train the human race in many ways,
Like: tilling their land, building their huts and milking their cows.

In the nights I sang my verses to soothe their hearts.
They loved me and the enlivening touch of my verse.
Men were honest and simple in the beginning.
As the time passed they became crooked and cunning.

I remember my days with the first generation men.
I recollect each of them by his face and name.
I can recognize the trees I planted, the lands I tilled,
The rivers I bathed in and my cows’ grazing field.

I used to sing aloud my songs in the open wide field
And enjoy the thrill of their echo from the horizon’s end.
Even today in solitude I hear them reverberate.
A once-peaceful world’s life they solemnly narrate.

I’ve experienced the joys and sorrows of many generations,
Through repeated rebirths and heading many vocations,
Going through different civilizations and cultural variations.
I’ve seen closely all facets of the world’s transformations.

I was never contented with mere professing from the dais.
I’ve always involved in the programmes of the mass.
Never did I entirely detach from the main-stream.
I haven’t settled matters through methods that were extreme.

Sensitivity and concern for others were visible in my conduct.
These impressed my fellow-men and they tried to emulate.
Peace and brotherhood I included in the topics of their learning
I won their hearts, and lead them well to develop noble leaning.

In the birth and death rotation with memory not fading,
I’m deathless, and as time passes my wisdom keeps unfolding
New insights into God’s purpose of sending me to the world.
To do all the remaining good, many more life spans I would need!