Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

SABCL - Volume 5

II. Sonnets
1930–1950

In the Battle

Often, in the slow¹ ages’ long² retreat

On Life’s thin³ ridge⁴ through Time’s enormous sea,

I have accepted death and borne defeat

To gain some vantage by my fall for Thee.⁵

For Thou hast given the Inconscient the dark right⁶

To oppose the shining passage of my soul

And levy at⁷ each step the tax of Night:

Doom, her august⁸ accountant, keeps the roll.

All around me now⁹ the Titan forces press;

This world¹⁰ is theirs, they hold its¹¹ days in fee;

I am full of wounds and the fight merciless.

Is it not yet Thy hour of victory?

Even as Thou wilt! What still to Fate Thou owest,

O Ancient of the worlds, Thou knowest, Thou knowest.

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.

¹ long

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² slow

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³ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: long

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⁴ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: bridge

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⁵ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: If by my fall some gain were clutched for Thee.

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⁶ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: To this world’s inconscient Power Thou hast given the right

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⁷ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: She levies on

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⁸ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: unjust

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⁹ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: Around my way

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¹⁰ 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: earth

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¹¹ the

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