Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Fragment ID: 20297
I think you said in a letter that in the line
Our prostrate soil bore the awakening ray1
“soil” was an error for “soul”. But “soil” is correct; for I am describing the revealing light falling upon the lower levels of the earth, not on the soul. No doubt, the whole thing is symbolic, but the symbol has to be kept in the front and the thing symbolised has to be concealed or only peep out from behind, it cannot come openly into the front and push aside the symbol.
1946
1 P. 5