SITE OF SRI AUROBINDO & THE MOTHER
      
Home Page | Workings | Works of Sri Aurobindo | Collected Poems

Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

SABCL - Volume 5

II. Sonnets
Undated

Discoveries of Science II1

How shall ascending nature near her goal?2

Not through man’s stumbling tardy intellect

Patient all forms and powers3 to dissect

But by the surer vision of his soul.

An algebra of mind, a scheme of sense,

A symbol language without depth or wings,

A power to handle deftly outward things

Are our scant earnings4 of intelligence.

The Truth5 is greater and asks6 deeper ways.

A sense that gathers all in its own being7,

A close and luminous touch,8 an intimate seeing,

A Thought flung free from the words’ daedal maze,9

A tranquil heart in sympathy with all,

A will one-pointed, wide, imperial.

 

Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo.- Set in 37 volumes.- Volume 2.- Collected Poems.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2009.- 751 p.

1 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: The Ways of the Spirit 1

The version of 2009 edition is so much differs, that we placed it here in full length:

What points ascending Nature to her goal?

’Tis not man’s lame transcribing intellect

With its carved figures rigid and erect

But the far subtle vision of his soul.

His instruments have served his weakness well

But they must change to tread the paths of Fire

That lead through his calm self immeasurable

To the last rapture’s incandescent spire.

The spirit keeps for him its ample ways,

A sense that takes the world into our being,

A close illumined touch and intimate seeing,

Wide Thought that is a god’s ensphering gaze,

A tranquil heart in sympathy with all,

A will wide-winging, armed, imperial.

Back

2 How shall earth’s evolution find its goal?

Back

3 Godheads

Back

4 Is our poor booty

Back

5 Our Spirit | The Soul

Back

6 has

Back

7 into our being

Back

8 A luminous touch direct,

Back

9 A Thought that is a god’s all-seeing gaze,

Back