The transformation happened overnight.

Once an ordinary man, now a wise sage

Sitting on the steps

beside the river,

he counts the swans flying above,

As if he is busy in a conversation with them –

Asking about their pasts, knowing their names,

Questioning their origins, learning their stories.

The sage is curious to learn about the truth

Where are they coming from

Where are they flying to.

As the fire beside him is never extinguished,

It is set ablaze for every moment on the earth,

The sage sits on the ghat

And keeps conversing with the swans

Until the moment he is transformed into one.

(Swans, especially the “hamsa” or “self,” are linked to the concept of moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara). The swan’s flight is seen as a metaphor for the soul’s ascent towards spiritual enlightenment. In Varanasi, it is believed that the fire of Manikarnika Ghat is never extinguished. A continuous fire has been burning at Manikarnika for centuries. The fire never goes out, symbolizing the eternal nature of the soul and the cycle of life and rebirth. I tried to write a poem by combining these two symbolisms to share my interpretation of the word ‘Transformation’.)

(This poem is part of the series titled ‘Journey Inward’, where I am going to publish 30 poems on spirituality, introspection and self-discovery. You can read the other poems of this series from here.)

(I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z)

(I am also participating in the Global A to Z Blogging Challenge 2025 and the Na/GloPoWriMo Challenge 2025.)