Sri Aurobindo

Collected Poems

CWSA.- Volume 2

Part One. England and Baroda 1883 – 1898
Songs to Myrtilla

Hic Jacet

Glasnevin Cemetery

Patriots, behold your guerdon. This man found

Erin, his mother, bleeding, chastised, bound,

Naked to imputation, poor, denied,

While alien masters held her house of pride.

And now behold her! Terrible and fair

With the eternal ivy in her hair,

Armed with the clamorous thunder, how she stands

Like Pallas’ self, the Gorgon in her hands.

True that her puissance will be easily past,

The vision ended; she herself has cast

Her fate behind her: yet the work not vain

Since that which once has been may be again,

And she this image yet recover, fired

With godlike workings, brain and hands inspired,

So stand, the blush of battle on her cheek,

Voice made armipotent, deeds that loudly speak,

Like some dread Sphinx, half patent to the eye,

Half veiled in formidable secrecy.

And he who raised her from her forlorn life

Loosening the fountains of that mighty strife,

Where sits he? On what high foreshadowing throne

Guarded by grateful hearts? Beneath this stone

He lies: this guerdon only Ireland gave,

A broken heart and an unhonoured grave.

Earlier edition of this work: Sri Aurobindo Birth Century Library: Set in 30 volumes.- Volume 5.- Collected Poems.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Asram, 1972.- 625 p.