Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 2. 1938
Letter ID: 2231
Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar
November 9, 1938
[Sri Aurobindo and the Mother]
This time, Sir, the poem1 looks to me damn fine. I know you will say, “Well, well!” – but we have very rarely agreed on any point! But does it really leave your plexus cold?
Very fine, yes, and perfect in expression; but I don’t know about damn fine, for that is a tremendous superlative. Such a solemn phrase should only be used when you write something equalling Shakespeare at his best.
Yes, Sir, your alterations appear extremely easy, but the fact that they didn’t come to me even after struggling breaths, proves them otherwise. Of course if I had been the Lord of all Inspiration, I would have told you the same thing. Anyway I am glad that “we” have achieved something. But do you still stick to your yesterday’s remark?
Well, my enthusiasm has abated a little except for the first 2 stanzas and line 3 of the third. The rest is not quite equal to the first two stanzas not having quite the same stamp of original authenticity. There is more in it of fine writing, which makes it less perfect. All 
the same it is very successful. Still some changes suggest themselves to me as necessary. Like that my first glow of appreciation begins to return, as the last 2 lines are so lifted up more naturally on the wave of what comes before. The “distances of air” and the “tune” brought in a wrong note and the “Are” of the 12th line is weak and does not convey the full significance.
Tripura’s finger is getting worse. We can’t stop the pus-formation. Shall we take her to the hospital?
[Mother:] I have no confidence in the people who are now in charge of the hospital. It would be better to consult Duraiswami’s friend Srinivas Rao who is at Cuddalore.
1 “Thy Presence”, Sun-Blossoms, p. 108.