Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

SABCL - Volume 5

II. Sonnets
1930–1950

Shiva

On the white summit of eternity

A single Soul of bare infinities,

Guarded he keeps by a fire-screen of peace

His mystic loneliness of nude ecstasy.

But, touched by an immense delight to be,

He looks across unending depths and sees

Musing amid the inconscient silences

The Mighty Mother’s dumb felicity.

Half now awake she rises to his glance;

Then, moved to circling by her heart-beats’ will,

The rhythmic worlds describe that passion-dance.

Life springs in her and Mind is born; her face

She lifts to Him who is Herself, until

The Spirit leaps into the Spirit’s embrace.

Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo.- Set in 37 volumes.- Volume 2.- Collected Poems.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2009.- 751 p.