How shall ascending nature near her goal?2Sri Aurobindo
Collected Poems
SABCL - Volume 5
II. Sonnets
Undated
How shall ascending nature near her goal?2
Not through man’s stumbling tardy intellect
Patient all forms and powers3 to dissect
But by the surer vision of his soul.
An algebra of mind, a scheme of sense,
A symbol language without depth or wings,
A power to handle deftly outward things
Are our scant earnings4 of intelligence.
The Truth5 is greater and asks6 deeper ways.
A sense that gathers all in its own being7,
A close and luminous touch,8 an intimate seeing,
A Thought flung free from the words’ daedal maze,9
A tranquil heart in sympathy with all,
A will one-pointed, wide, imperial.
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 2009 ed. CWSA, vol.2: The Ways of the Spirit 1
The version of 2009 edition is so much differs, that we placed it here in full length:
What points ascending Nature to her goal?
’Tis not man’s lame transcribing intellect
With its carved figures rigid and erect
But the far subtle vision of his soul.
His instruments have served his weakness well
But they must change to tread the paths of Fire
That lead through his calm self immeasurable
To the last rapture’s incandescent spire.
The spirit keeps for him its ample ways,
A sense that takes the world into our being,
A close illumined touch and intimate seeing,
Wide Thought that is a god’s ensphering gaze,
A tranquil heart in sympathy with all,
A will wide-winging, armed, imperial.
2 How shall earth’s evolution find its goal?
3 Godheads
4 Is our poor booty
5 Our Spirit | The Soul
6 has
7 into our being
8 A luminous touch direct,
9 A Thought that is a god’s all-seeing gaze,