“Long didst Thou hide”
In Paramahansa Yogananda’s “My Prisoner,” the speaker addresses the Divine Belovedreminding Him that He has been hiding from the devotee/speaker for many years. The Lord has remained undetectable to the speaker, because the speaker’s mind has been disturbed by “restless thoughts.” The speaker now comprehends that he must still his mind and banish the restlessness that hides the Divine Presence.
The speaker also avers that the Lord has been escaping the speaker’s notice as if He were “flee[ing] / In the chambers of eerie ether.” The Lord’s presence, clouded by the restless thoughts of the devotee, seems to vanish like smoke into invisibility. The Divine Beloved has been fleeing from the devotee as a lawbreaking perpetrator would flee law enforcement.
“At last I hunted Thee down”
Finally, the speaker was able to detect the presence of the Divine Beloved. The speaker was at last able to still his mind and to relinquish the desires that interfere with God perception. The “quiet desert-dunes” represent the blank slate of the calm, still mind that ultimately contacts God.
Upon realizing his first contact with the Beloved, he used “strong cords of devotion” to hold Him, Who now becomes the speakers “Prisoner.” The speaker will imprison the Beloved in his heart and soul in order to eternally enjoy the Bliss of His presence.
“I’ll lock Thee”
The Divine Perpetrator who has eluded the speaker is now secure in the speaker’s custody, and the speaker/devotee intends to retain that custody by locking the Divine Prisoner “[i]n the cell of silence, / Secure behind bars of my closed eyes.” The speaker’s act of meditation is metaphorically likened to securing a prisoner.
“Within the temple of my dreams”
The speaker continues the prison metaphor, addressing the Lord as “Beloved Captive,” and assuring Him that he will keep him not only in his dreams, but also he will “hide [the Beloved Captive] / In a bower of caresses.”
“Precious Prisoner”
The speaker then addresses the Divine as “Precious Prisoner,” softening the prison metaphor as he asserts that he will “enshrine [the Lord] / On the altar of my secret songs.” The speaker has transformed the prison metaphor into a monastic setting, where the monastic will encounter spiritual reminders as well as an altar with sacred chants.
“Infinite Personage”
Continuing the transformed metaphor, the speaker addresses the Lord as “Infinite Personage,” Whom the speaker will “cloister” “behind strong walls of [his] undying love.” The Perpetrator, Whom the speaker had to seek throughout much time and space, has become the Beloved, Whom the speaker will keep in the prison/cloister of his heart and soul.
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