Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1936

Letter ID: 1686

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

July 26, 1936

I send you my poem with some changes made in the chhanda by Dilip and Nishikanta. I can’t quite see their point; but as they are masters in metre I have to consider. What does your ear say?

My opinion on metrical points is not of much value. I dare say you are right, but the alterations made sound better.

Nishikanta says “red tears” is not very appropriate, for tears are associated with transparency. Can one use “red tears of pain” in English?

Yes, in English one can, as poetical equivalent to the common phrase “tears of blood”.

The third house I spoke to you about, for Jatin, belongs to the fisherman who, I understand, wanted to catch you in his net!

[Sri Aurobindo underlined “catch you”.]

? Probably you are mistaking the identity. It was another member of the family.

Another poem by J! She seems to be flowering very rapidly.

Yes.

But I can’t pronounce upon the chhanda as I’m not a metrist. So I approach you.

Neither am I.

J says that when she was writing it, she thought she knew what it meant, but after it was finished, it seemed strange to herself!

It is strange, but admirable. More and more Blakish. One feels what it means, but mentally it is inexplicable. (I mean of course in the details; the general idea is clear.)