by Bakul Banerjee
What theme are you addressing in your piece? Why is this important to you?
Bakul Banerjee: Being a Bengali by birth, the search for the divine is in my blood. After immigrating to the United States, I soaked up the essence of spirituality in other traditions. Contemplations on divinity within self are never far from my thoughts. Naturally, the theme of my poem “The Divine Within” is spirituality.
O, the divine – the feminine within me,
abide in my consciousness like a river,
dancing into every nook within its banks.
Let me possess your perfection and power
to perform work. Teach me with your infinite
patience to absorb wisdom, making me richer,
my eyes discerning, hands deft, and mind
reflecting your acuity. Abide in my desire
to forgive deeply as giant trees in a forest
send roots down seeking nourishing water.
Sway my soul softly in the gentle breeze
of empathy and compassion like the quiver
in the heart of a lover. As I take every
breath without knowing, let serenity inspire
me, saturating my precious consciousness
like gravity. Let me remain aware – forever.
[…] Bakul Banerjee: The world has always been in turmoil. However, the burden of living becomes heavier when the leaders fail to demonstrate empathy. Creative writers need to step in and help others with the collective search for strength within ourselves. Read Bakul Banerjee’s poem here. […]