The Jewel of India, young, brilliant and speech so fiery and moving

This Swami was of different metal made

No love for the trodden path, longing to take a plunge to see the almighty

Sought his Guru Swami Ramakrishna with devotion never to fade

Wondered restless with his mind curious to reach the Truth

Nature of God to him was so beautiful and enchanted his mind

The mountains, and waters of the rivers and the oceans were his refuge

Never was seen a dedicated soul so inspired to see the God so kind

In the feet of his Guru, he felt the face of God so profound

His heart fluttered with joy and mind elevated to see the heavens

His meditations opened for him new horizons

His mind sprang to heights miles and miles from the ground

He wandered to Kanyakumari, and plunged in the waters of the ocean

Seated at the confluence of three oceans, mighty and resounding

He meditated on the rock and a rainbow of colors of new thoughts

Unfolded a light of vision so beautiful with no bounding

He reached the new world of America, stranger and unknown

With his words at the World Conference of Religions, enchanted galore

With his message of love, compassion and heritage of India

He put the world on fire and ran after him to speak more and more

Came back to his Ashram of Belurmath, Kolkatta

This son of God fell sick and left the world as young of only thirty-eight

Gone was the angel leaving this Earth and message of Vedanta

God wanted him with no further wait

Kamlesh and I stood by his bed in Belurmath, some forty years ago

And presence of his spirit gripped us

With the River Ganges/ Hoogley flowing by and the serene waves saying

Vivekananda, you will never die; you will live forever!

- Puran Dang

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