{"id":3017,"date":"2013-07-13T01:45:23","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3017"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:45:23","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:45:23","slug":"18-poems-from-ahana-and-other-poems-contd-vol-02-collected-poems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/02-collected-poems\/18-poems-from-ahana-and-other-poems-contd-vol-02-collected-poems","title":{"rendered":"-18_Poems from Ahana and Other Poems – Contd.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\n
\nThe Rishi<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKing Manu in the former ages of the world,
\n\t\t\twhen the Arctic continent still subsisted, seeks knowledge from the
\n\t\t\tRishi of the Pole, who after long baffling him with conflicting
\n\t\t\tside- lights of the knowledge, reveals to him what it chiefly
\n\t\t\tconcerns man to know.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRishi who trance-held on the mountains old<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tArt slumbering, void<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOf sense or motion, for in the spirit’s hold<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOf unalloyed<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tImmortal bliss thou dreamst protected! Deep<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLet my voice glide<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tInto thy dumb retreat and break thy sleep<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAbysmal. Hear!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe frozen snows that heap thy giant bed<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIce-cold and clear,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe chill and desert heavens above thee spread<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tVast, austere,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAre not so sharp but that thy warm limbs brook<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTheir bitter breath,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAre not so wide as thy immense outlook<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOn life and death:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTheir vacancy thy silent mind and bright<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOutmeasureth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBut ours are blindly active and thy light<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWe have forgone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWho art thou, warrior armed gloriously<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLike the sun?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThy gait is as an empire and thine eye<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDominion.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 220<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKing Manu, of the Aryan peoples lord,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tGreets thee, Sage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nI know thee, King, earth to whose sleepless sword<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWas heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe high Sun’s distant glories gave thee forth<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOn being’s edge:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere the slow skies of the auroral North<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLead in the morn<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd flaming dawns for ever on heaven’s verge<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWheel and turn,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThundering remote the clamorous Arctic surge<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSaw thee born.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThere ’twas thy lot these later Fates to build,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThis race of man<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNew-fashion. O watcher with the mountains wild,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe icy plain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThee I too, asleep, have watched, both when the Pole<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWas brightening wan<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd when like a wild beast the darkness stole<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tProwling and slow<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlarming with its silent march the soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tO King, I know<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy purpose; for the vacant ages roll<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSince man below<\/span><\/p>\n

\nConversed with God in friendship. Thou, reborn<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor men perplexed,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSeekest in this dim aeon and forlorn<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWith evils vexed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe vanished light. For like this Arctic land<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDeath has annexed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo sleep, our being’s summits cold and grand<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhere God abides,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRepel the tread of thought. I too, O King,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 221<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tIn winds and tides<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHave sought Him, and in armies thundering,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd where Death strides<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOver whole nations. Action, thought and peace<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWere questioned, sleep,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd waking, but I had no joy of these,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor ponderings deep,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd pity was not sweet enough, nor good<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMy will could keep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOften I found Him for a moment, stood<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAstonished, then<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIt fell from me. I could not hold the bliss,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe force for men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMy brothers. Beauty ceased my heart to please,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBrightness in vain<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRecalled the vision of the light that glows<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSuns behind:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tI hated the rich fragrance of the rose;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWeary and blind,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tI tired of the suns and stars; then came<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWith broken mind<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo heal me of the rash devouring flame,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe dull disease,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd sojourned with this mountain’s summits bleak,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThese frozen seas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKing, the blind dazzling snows have made me meek,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCooled my unease.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPride could not follow, nor the restless will<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCome and go;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMy mind within grew holy, calm and still<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLike the snow.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nO thou who wast with chariots formidable<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd with the bow!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVoiceless and white the cold unchanging hill,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 222<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHas it then<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tA mightier presence, deeper mysteries<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThan human men?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe warm low hum of crowds, towns, villages,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe sun and rain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe village maidens to the water bound,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe happy herds,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe fluting of the shepherd lads, the sound<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMyriad of birds,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSpeak these not clearer to the heart, convey<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore subtle words?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHere is but great dumb night, an awful day<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tInert and dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe many’s voices fill the listening ear,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDistract the head:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe One is silence; on the snows we hear<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSilence tread.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhat hast thou garnered from the crags that lour,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe icy field?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nO King, I spurned this body’s death; a Power<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThere was, concealed,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat raised me. Rescued from the pleasant bars<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOur longings build,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMy winged soul went up above the stars<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tQuesting for God.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 223<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOh, didst thou meet Him then? in what bright
\n\t\t\tfield<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tUpon thy road?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nI asked the heavenly wanderers as they wheeled<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor His abode.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCould glorious Saturn and his rings of hue<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDirect thy flight?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nSun could not tell, nor any planet knew<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIts source of light,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor could I glean that knowledge though I paced<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe world’s beyond<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd into outer nothingness have gazed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTime’s narrow sound<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI crossed, the termless flood where on the Snake<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOne slumbers throned,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAttempted. But the ages from Him break<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBlindly and Space<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForgets its origin. Then I returned<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhere luminous blaze<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDeathless and ageless in their ease unearned<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe ethereal race.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDid the gods tell thee? Has Varuna seen<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe high God’s face?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 224<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHow shall they tell of Him who marvel at sin<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd smile at grief?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nDid He not send His blissful Angels down<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor thy relief?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe Angels know Him not, who fear His frown,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHave fixed belief.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs there no heaven of eternal light<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhere He is found?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe heavens of the Three have beings bright<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTheir portals round,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd I have journeyed to those regions blest,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThose hills renowned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIn Vishnu’s house where wide Love builds his
\n\t\t\tnest,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMy feet have stood.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs he not That, the blue-winged Dove of peace,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFather of Good?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor Brahma, though the suns and hills and seas<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAre called his brood.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 225<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIs God a dream then? are the heavenly coasts<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tVisions vain?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nI came to Shiva’s roof; the flitting ghosts<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCompelled me in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIs He then God whom the forsaken seek,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThings of sin?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe sat on being’s summit grand, a peak<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tImmense of fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tKnows He the secret of release from tears<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd from desire?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis voice is the last murmur silence hears,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTranquil and dire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe silence calls us then and shall enclose?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOur true abode<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs here and in the pleasant house He chose<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo harbour God.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 226<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIn vain thou hast travelled the unwonted stars<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd the void hast trod!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nKing, not in vain. I knew the tedious bars<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThat I had fled,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo be His arms whom I have sought; I saw<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHow earth was made<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOut of His being; I perceived the Law,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe Truth, the Vast,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom which we came and which we are; I heard<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe ages past<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhisper their history, and I knew the Word<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThat forth was cast<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInto the unformed potency of things<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo build the suns.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThrough endless Space and on Time’s iron wings<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tA rhythm runs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOur lives pursue, and till the strain’s complete<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThat now so moans<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd falters, we upon this greenness meet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThat measure tread.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIs earth His seat? this body His poor hold<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tInfirmly made?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nI flung off matter like a robe grown old;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMatter was dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 227<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSages have told of vital force behind:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIt is God then?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe vital spirits move but as a wind<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWithin men.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMind then is lord that like a sovereign sways<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tDelight and pain?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nMind is His wax to write and, written, rase<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tForm and name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIs Thought not He who has immortal eyes<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTime cannot dim?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nHigher, O King, the still voice bade me rise<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThan thought’s clear dream.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDeep in the luminous secrecy, the mute<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tProfound of things,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere murmurs never sound of harp or lute<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd no voice sings,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLight is not, nor our darkness, nor these bright<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThunderings,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn the deep steady voiceless core of white<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd burning bliss,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe sweet vast centre and the cave divine<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCalled Paradise,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 228<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe dwells within us all who dwells not in<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAught that is.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRishi, thy thoughts are like the blazing sun<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEye cannot face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHow shall our souls on that bright awful One<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHope even to gaze<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWho lights the world from His eternity<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWith a few rays?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nDare on thyself to look, thyself art He,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tO Aryan, then.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThere is no thou nor I, beasts of the field,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNor birds, nor men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut flickerings on a many-sided shield<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tPass, or remain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd this is winged and that with poisonous tongue<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHissing coils.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWe love ourselves and hate ourselves, are wrung<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWith woes and toils<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo slay ourselves or from ourselves to win<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tShadowy spoils.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd through it all, the rumour and the din,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tVoices roam,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVoices of harps, voices of rolling seas,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThat rarely come<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd to our inborn old affinities<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCall us home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShadows upon the many-sided Mind<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tArrive and go,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShadows that shadows see; the vain pomps wind<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAbove, below,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhile in their hearts the single mighty God<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWhom none can know,<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 229<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nGuiding the mimic squadrons with His nod<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWatches it all  \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\nLike transient shapes that sweep with half-guessed truth<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tA luminous wall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAlas! is life then vain? Our gorgeous youth<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLithe and tall,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOur sweet fair women with their tender eyes<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOutshining stars,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe mighty meditations of the wise,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe grandiose wars,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe blood, the fiery strife, the clenched dead
\n\t\t\thands,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe circle sparse,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe various labour in a hundred lands,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAre all these shows<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTo please some audience cold? as in a vase<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tLily and rose,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMixed snow and crimson, for a moment blaze<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTill someone throws<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe withered petals in some outer dust,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tHeeding not,  \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe virtuous man made one with the unjust,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIs this our lot?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nO King, sight is not vain, nor any sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tWeeds that float<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon a puddle and the majestic round<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tOf the suns<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAre thoughts eternal,  \u2014  what man loves to laud<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd what he shuns;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThrough glorious things and base the wheel of God<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor ever runs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO King, no thought is vain; our very dreams<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tSubstantial are;<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 230<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe light we see in fancy, yonder gleams<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tIn the star.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMANU<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRishi, are we both dreams and real? the near<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tEven as the far?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tRISHI<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nDreams are we not, O King, but see dreams, fear<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTherefore and strive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike poets in a wondrous world of thought<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAlways we live,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhose shapes from out ourselves to being brought<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAbide and thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe poet from his vast and labouring mind<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tBrings brilliant out<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA living world; forth into space they wind,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe shining rout,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd hate and love, and laugh and weep, enjoy,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFight and shout,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nKing, lord and beggar, tender girl and boy,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFoemen, friends;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo to His creatures God’s poetic mind<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tA substance lends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe Poet with dazzling inspiration blind,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tUntil it ends,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForgets Himself and lives in what He forms;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tFor ever His soul<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThrough chaos like a wind creating storms,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTill the stars roll<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThrough ordered space and the green lands arise,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tThe snowy Pole,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOcean and this great heaven full of eyes,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd sweet sounds heard,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMan with his wondrous soul of hate and love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tAnd beast and bird,  \u2014 <\/span> <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nPage \u2013 231<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The Rishi   King Manu in the former ages of the world, when the Arctic continent still subsisted, seeks knowledge from the Rishi of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-collected-poems","wpcat-57-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3017"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3017\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3017"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3017"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}