Garden: Tell me, O swan...

TELL me, O Swan, your ancient tale. From what land do you come, O Swan? To what SHORE will you FLY? Where would you take your rest, O Swan, and what do you seek?

---

Where to next: the TELLING or the FLIGHT... or perhaps the SHORE?

---

[Source: RT 12 (partial); 2.24. hamsâ, kaho purâtan vât]

swan. This is the hamsa bird, a symbol associated with ultimate reality (Brahman) and also with moksha, release from the cycle of birth and death.

Here is the full poem:

XII

II. 24. hamsâ, kaho purâtan vât

  Tell me, O Swan, your ancient tale.
  From what land do you come, O Swan? to what shore will you fly?
  Where would you take your rest, O Swan, and what do you seek?
  Even this morning, O Swan, awake, arise, follow me!
  There is a land where no doubt nor sorrow have rule: where the
    terror of Death is no more.
  There the woods of spring are a-bloom, and the fragrant scent "He
    is I" is borne on the wind:
  There the bee of the heart is deeply immersed, and desires no
    other joy.