Sri Aurobindo. An Image: A Poem in a New Metre // Collected Poems

Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

SABCL - Volume 5

VI. Poems in New Metres

An Image

Rushing from Troy like a cloud on the plains the Trojans thundered,

Just as a storm comes thundering, thick with the dust of kingdoms,

Edged with the devious dance of the lightning, so all Troas

Loud with the roar of the chariots, loud with the vaunt and the war-cry,

Rushed from Troywards gleaming with spears and rolled on enormous.

Joyous as ever Paris led them glancing in armour,

Brilliant with gold like a bridegroom, playing with death and the battle

Even as apart in his chamber he played with his beautiful Helen,

Touching her body rejoiced with a low and lyrical laughter,

So he laughed as he smote his foemen. Round him the arrows,

Round him the spears of the Argives sang like the voices of maidens

Trilling the anthem of bridal bliss, the chant hymeneal;

Round him the warriors fell like flowers strewn at a bridal

Red with the beauty of blood.