To The Fourth of July

Swami Vivekananda was received well at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions [Link] in Chicago, Illinois, where he delivered a series of lectures. He also earned wild applause for beginning his address with the famous words, "Sisters and brothers of America." He breathed his last on July 4th, 1902. Tune in tomorrow to 'Taraana' [Link] on KEOS 89.1FM for a special program on Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekananda[Link], moved by the spirit of America's Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1898, wrote a poem titled:

To The Fourth Of July

Behold, the dark clouds melt away,
That gathered thick at night, and hung
So like a gloomy pall above the earth!
Before thy magic touch, the world
Awakes. The birds in chorus sing.
The flowers raise their star-like crowns-
Dew-set, and wave thee welcome fair.

The lakes are opening wide in love
Their hundred thousand lotus-eyes
To welcome thee, with all their depth.

All hail to thee, thou Lord of Light!
A welcome new to thee, today,
O sun! today thou sheddest LIBERTY!
Bethink thee how the world did wait,
And search for thee, through time and clime.

Some gave up home and love of friends,
And went in quest of thee, self banished,
Through dreary oceans, through primeval forests,
Each step a struggle for their life or death;

Then came the day when work bore fruit,
And worship, love, and sacrifice,
Fulfilled, accepted, and complete.
Then thou, propitious, rose to shed
The light of FREEDOM on mankind.

Move on, O Lord, on thy resistless path!
Till thy high noon o'erspreads the world.
Till every land reflects thy light,
Till men and women, with uplifted head,
Behold their shackles broken, and
Know, in springing joy, their life renewed!

To The Fourth Of July
by Swami Vivekananda
Contributed by: Mukesh H. Mehta

(From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol5 Page 440.)