References
Vicente Bletán-Anglada
Luis A. Hernández-Ríos
José Becerra
Remember
REMEMBER
His Country series,Tempera on canvas, 1924
by Nicholas Roerich
I LEFT
by Nicholas RoerichMusicalized by José Becerra and vocalized/arranged by Carol Merrifield.
Orchestrated, vocalized and remixed by AI
[Verse 1]
I’m prepared for the road.
All that was mine, I renounce, I renounce.
You will take it, my friends,
And now for the last time, I shall survey my house
Once more
I shall view my possessions
Upon images of friends, I shall look.
For the last time, I know
That here nothing of mine remains, anymore.
[Verse 2]
Possessions and all that impeded me
Freely I’m giving away
Without them I shall be more free
Before the one who calls me, liberated,
I shall appear I shall appear.
[Verse 3]
Now once more I’ll survey the house,
View once more that from which I’m released.
Free, liberated and firm in thought,
The images, my former things, do not confuse me.
[Verse 4]
I’m going, I’m hurrying, but once more
For the last time,
I shall survey all that I’ve left.
All that I’ve left.
All that I’ve left, behind.
All that I’ve left.
All that I’ve left, behind.
All that I’ve left.
Original Poem by N. Roerich
I am prepared for the road.
All that was mine I renounced.
You will take it, my friends.
Now for the last time, I shall survey
My house. Once more
I shall view my possessions. Upon the images
Of friends I shall look once more.
For the last time.
I know already
That here nothing of mine remains.
Possessions and all that impeded me
Freely I am giving away. Without them
I shall be more free. Before the One
Who calls me, liberated
I shall appear.
Now once more
I shall survey the house. View once more
That from which I am released,
Free and liberated and firm
In thought. The images of friends and the view
Of my former things
Do not confuse me. I am going. I am hurrying.
But once more—for the
Last time I shall survey all that
I left.
1918
The Rules of the Road
- The Road is trodden in the full light of day, thrown upon the Path by Those Who know and lead. Naught [Page 584] can then be hidden, and at each turn upon that Road a man must face himself.
- Upon the Road the hidden stands revealed. Each sees and knows the villainy of each. And yet there is, with that great revelation, no turning back, no spurning of each other, no shakiness upon the Road. The Road goes forward into day.
- Upon that Road one wanders not alone. There is no rush, no hurry. And yet there is no time to lose. Each pilgrim, knowing this, presses his footsteps forward, and finds himself surrounded by his fellowmen. Some move ahead; he follows after. Some move behind; he sets the pace. He travels not alone.
- Three things the Pilgrim must avoid. The wearing of a hood, a veil which hides his face from others; the carrying of a water pot which only holds enough for his own wants; the shouldering of a staff without a crook to hold.
- Each Pilgrim on the Road must carry with him what he needs: a pot of fire, to warm his fellowmen; a lamp, to cast its rays upon his heart and show his fellowmen the nature of his hidden life; a purse of gold, which he scatters not upon the Road, but shares with others; a sealed vase, wherein he carries all his aspiration to cast before the feet of Him Who waits to greet him at the gate—a sealed vase.
- The Pilgrim, as he walks upon the Road, must have the open ear, the giving hand, the silent tongue, the chastened heart, the golden voice, the rapid foot, and the open eye which sees the light. He knows he travels not alone.
- From Discipleship in the New Age, Vol. 1, published by the Lucis Trust.
Rendered in poetic format and set to music as 6 verses of a traditional a hymn (two versions).
[Verse 1]
In daylight’s glow we tread the road of truth,
Led by the wise whose lanterns guide our feet.
No secret shadow holds within its roof;
At every turning face the self you meet.
[ Verse 2]
Where hidden sins are laid in open view,
Each heart laid bare yet bound by fellowship.
No backtracking, no disdain our hands undo;
We march as one beneath the sun’s clear tip.
[ Verse 3]
No pilgrim walks this path with hurried pace,
Nor lingers lost in doubts that stall the way.
In fellowship we match each measured pace;
At times we lead, at times we trail the day.
[ Verse 4]
Three perils three the wandering soul must shun:
A hidden face, a vessel scant and bare,
A staff unbent that serves no tie or bond.
Cast off these masks, embrace the cross we bear.
[Verse 5]
Carry, pilgrim, fire to warm the cold,
A lamp to cast truth’s brightness in your soul.
A purse that flows in mercy’s hands untold,
And sealed a vase of vows before the goal.
[Verse 6]
Keep open ear to every whispered plea,
Extend the hand and hush the tongue in peace.
With tempered heart and voice of harmony,
Stride swift of foot with open eye to see the light.
The Shepherd’s Way
A Poetic Adaptation of Psalm 23 (two versions).
[Verse 1]
The Lord my Shepherd, I shall not want;
He leads me where the green pastures lie.
Beside still waters He bids me rest,
And bids my soul in peace draw nigh.
[Verse 2]
He guides my footsteps on paths of right,
That honor Him and bear His name.
Though I walk valleys veiled in night,
I dread no evil, feel no shame.
[Verse 3]
His rod and staff bring comfort near,
Their tender strength my heart secures.
In sight of foes He spreads my feast,
His grace a refuge that endures.
[Verse 4]
My head He anoints, my cup runs o’er
With mercy poured in measure full.
No want can rise, no thirst endure,
His love my guard, my spirit’s rule.
[Verse 5]
Surely His goodness trails my steps,
His mercy trails me all my days.
Through dawns of joy and dusks of doubt,
His steadfast love directs my ways.
[Verse 6]
I dwell within His hallowed courts
Forever singing of His grace.
His boundless care, my sure abode—
My Shepherd, Lord, through time and space.