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
On Savitri

Comments on Specific Lines and Passages of the Poem [54]

That clasped him in from day and night’s pursuit, [p. 289]

I do not realise what you mean by “stickiness”, since there are only two hard labials and some nasals; is it that combination which makes you feel sticky, or does the addition of some hard dentals also help? Anyhow, sticky or not, I am unwilling to change anything.

I do not want to put “day’s” and “night’s”; I find it heavy and unnecessary. It ought to be clear enough to the reader that “day and night” are here one double entity or two hounds in a leash pursuing a common prey.

1948