Sri Aurobindo

Letters on Poetry and Art

SABCL - Volume 27

Part 2. On His Own and Others’ Poetry
Section 2. On Poets and Poetry
Comments on Some Passages of Prose

Lawrence’s Letters [3]

In one of his letters, Lawrence says: “You see one can only write creative stuff when it comes — otherwise it’s not much good.” [p. 89]

All statements are subject to qualification. What Lawrence states is true in principle, but in practice most poets have to sustain the inspiration by industry. Milton in his later days used to write every day fifty lines; Virgil nine which he corrected and recorrected till it was within half way of what he wanted. In other words he used to write under any other conditions and pull at his inspiration till it came.

To go by my own experience, the first part of the statement doesn’t seem always to be true. But perhaps the best creations are those which come in that way.

Yes. Usually the best lines, passages etc. come like that.

10 November 1936