Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

CWSA.- Volume 2

Part Seven. Pondicherry
Sonnets from Manuscripts, c. 1934 – 1947

In the Battle

Often, in the slow¹ ages’ wide² retreat

On Life’s long³ bridge⁴ through Time’s enormous sea,

I have accepted death and borne defeat

If by my fall some gain were clutched for Thee.⁵

To this world’s inconscient Power Thou hast given the right⁶

To oppose the shining passage of my soul:

She levies on⁷ each step the tax of Night.

Doom, her unjust⁸ accountant, keeps the roll.

Around my way⁹ the Titan forces press;

This earth¹⁰ is theirs, they hold the¹¹ days in fee,

I am full of wounds and the fight merciless:

Is it not yet Thy hour of victory?

Even as Thou wilt! What still to Fate Thou owest,

O Ancient of the worlds, Thou knowest, Thou knowest.

Earlier edition of this work: Sri Aurobindo Birth Century Library: Set in 30 volumes.- Volume 5.- Collected Poems.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Asram, 1972.- 625 p.

¹ long (variant mentioned in 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5)

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² long | slow (the second variant is mentioned in 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5)

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³ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: thin

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⁴ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: ridge

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⁵ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: To gain some vantage by my fall for Thee.

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⁶ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: For Thou hast given the Inconscient the dark right

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⁷ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: And levy at

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⁸ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: august

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⁹ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: All around me now

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¹⁰ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: world

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¹¹ 1972 ed. SABCL, vol.5: its

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