Sri Aurobindo

Letters on Poetry and Art

SABCL - Volume 27

Part 2. On His Own and Others’ Poetry
Section 1. On His Poetry and Poetic Method
Metrical Experiments

The Genesis of Winged with dangerous deity

Your model is exceedingly difficult for the English language — for this reason that except in lines closing with triple rhymes the language draws back from a regular dactylic ending — more still from a dactylic last foot to a stanza. It can be done perhaps in a rhymeless lyrical movement such as Arnold was fond of, taking his inspiration from the Greek choruses — a first unconscious step towards the licence of free verse. I have at any rate made the following attempt.

Winged with dangerous deity,

Passion swift and implacable

Arose and, storm-footed

In the dim | heart of him,

Ran, insatiate, conquering,

Worlds devouring and hearts of men,

Then perished, broken by

The irres|istible

Occult masters of destiny,—

They who sit in the secrecy

And watch un|moved ever

Unto the | end of all.

But there are several snags here. Especially the tribrach is difficult to keep up: the average reader will turn it into a dactyl or amphibrach. I started a rhymed endeavour also, but had no time to pursue it; it is not easy either.

20 June 1934