Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

CWSA.- Volume 2

Part Two. Baroda
Sonnets from Manuscripts, c. 1900 – 1901

My life is wasted

My life is wasted like a lamp ablaze

Within a solitary house unused,

My life is wasted and by Love men praise

For sweet and kind. How often have I mused

What lovely thing were love and much repined

At my cold bosom moved not by that flame.

’Tis kindled; lo, my dreadful being twined¹

Round one whom to myself I dare not name.

I cannot quench the fire I did not light

And he that lit it will not; I cannot even

Drive² out the guest I never did invite;

Although the soul he dwells with loses³ heaven.

I burn and know not why; I sink to hell

Fruitlessly and am forbidden to rebel.

Earlier edition of this work: Sri Aurobindo Birth Century Library: Set in 30 volumes.- Volume 27.- Supplement.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Asram, 1972.- 511 p.

¹ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.27: turned

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² In the edition of 1972 year before this line stand another:

Although my heart between his burning hands,

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³ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.27: lose its

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