Hari Om

In a past dream I saw a group of elephants
Standing on steamy jungle ground
I felt waves of love wash over me
To these creatures I now felt bound

The start of a passion and a love affair
With these mighty gentle beasts
Later had a vision of God Ganesh
Drinking milk and eating sweet meats

I jump forward to the now
Right here on this dear earth
On top of an elephant I ride with my son
Rites of passage and a new birth

As we climb up and down the muddy banks
We tumble and we shake
Realising past dreams in the here and now
Not asleep but wide awake

In the jungle depths of Chitwan
The southern tip of Great Nepal
Wild beasts can now run freely
Not hunted in some mad free for all

I feel sad when I think of creatures a home
Gripped vice like to mans dark fate
Fattened up, caged and bewildered
Their only future is on a dinner plate

Hari Om

In Varanasi the humped back bull Nandi
Is honoured everywhere like a saint
At festivals cows and bulls are worshipped
And adorned with brightly coloured paint

These orphaned animals run freely
Eating flowers and vegetable waste
Natural islands in the crowded streets
Slowing traffic and pilgrims in their haste

In a culture based on harmlessness
Lived through long long ancient days
Could we learn from this in our modern west
And change some of our harmful ways

We say it really does not matter
Animals are ours to keep and eat
Is it natures payback time, I ponder
Death and disease from eating meat

Great beings like Gandhi and Buddha
Knew all of this too well
They lived non-violent lives in deep peace
And told us we should do as well

For harm turns inward in on ourselves
When we live without real care
God's world only truly understood
When we love and heal and share

Joy bubbles up from inside us
As we learn how to reconnect
Honour all beings right to live beside us
Nurtured and well kept

These beings are Gods own marvel
Golden gifts to the good earth
We will suffer with them in their pain
Till we allow a brand new birth

Hari Om

I touched the source of elephant pulse
By the banks of Mother Ganga
Beating out rhythms on my beloved drums
Like the thunder of Maha Dev Shiva

Now I play Ganesh's Tabla
Like I'm lost in Gods own trance
The Great Mother consumes me when I play
As my hands follow the cosmic dance
As my hands follow the cosmic dance
As my hands follow the cosmic dance