Sri Aurobindo Poems

Because Thou Art

Because Thou art All-beauty and All-bliss,
      My soul blind and enamoured yearns for Thee ;
It bears Thy mystic touch in all that is
      And thrills with the burden of that ecstasy.

Behind all eyes I meet Thy secret gaze
      And in each voice I hear Thy magic tune :
Thy sweetness haunts my heart through Nature’s ways;
Nowhere it beats now from Thy snare immune.

It loves Thy body in all living things;
      Thy joy is there in every leaf and stone:
The moments bring Thee on their fiery wings ;
      Sight’s endless artistry is Thou alone

Time voyages with Thee upon its prow
And all the future’s passionate hope is Thou.

Analysis : This poem expresses a deep yearning for the divine, characterized by a mystical and transcendental experience. The speaker’s soul is captivated by the all-encompassing beauty and bliss of the divine presence, which is found in all aspects of nature. The poem’s language is simple yet evocative, conveying a sense of profound longing and connection. It compares the divine presence to a secret gaze behind all eyes, a magic tune in every voice, and a sweetness that permeates the heart through nature’s ways. The poem’s structure reinforces the speaker’s growing devotion, with each stanza progressing from the present moment to the future, culminating in the idea that the future’s hope is wholly embodied in the divine. Compared to the author’s other works, this poem exhibits a more introspective and devotional tone, reflecting the author’s own spiritual journey and beliefs. It captures the essence of mystical experiences, where the divine is found within all things and time itself is perceived in relation to the divine presence.

Bande Mataram

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving, Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease,
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother, I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands,
When the swords flash out in twice seventy million hands
And seventy millions voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call, Mother and Lord!
Thou who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foemen drave

Analysis : This ode celebrates the beauty and power of the motherland, invoking its natural splendor and the strength of its people. It reflects the Indian independence movement’s themes of national pride and defiance against colonialism.

Compared to Aurobindo’s other works, this poem is more patriotic and less philosophical. It lacks the mystical and spiritual elements found in his other poems.

The poem mirrors the time period’s nationalist fervor and call for self-determination. It captures the aspirations of Indians for freedom and self-governance. The poem exudes a strong sense of national unity and resilience.

Life And Death

Life, death, – death, life; the words have led for ages
Our thought and consciousness and firmly seemed
Two opposites; but now long-hidden pages
Are opened, liberating truths undreamed.
Life only is, or death is life disguised, –
Life a short death until by Life we are surprised.

Analysis : The poem “Life And Death” by Sri Aurobindo explores the interconnectedness and fluidity of life and death. It challenges the traditional view of these concepts as opposites, suggesting instead that they are part of a continuous cycle. The poem marks a departure from the author’s earlier works, which primarily focused on themes of spirituality and yoga. It aligns with the philosophical and intellectual currents of the early 20th century, where traditional boundaries were being questioned and the nature of reality was being examined. The poem’s concise and thought-provoking verses invite contemplation on the nature of existence and the fluidity of the life-death continuum

Bride of the Fire

Bride of the Fire, clasp me now close, –
Bride of the Fire!
I have shed the bloom of the earthly rose,
I have slain desire.

Beauty of the Light, surround my life, –
Beauty of the Light!
I have sacrificed longing and parted from grief,
I can bear thy delight.

Image of Ecstasy, thrill and enlace, –
Image of Bliss!
I would see only thy marvellous face,
Feel only thy kiss.

Voice of Infinity, sound in my heart, –
Call of the One!
Stamp there thy radiance, never to part,
O living sun.

Analysis  This poem depicts a spiritual transformation through the imagery of a bride merging with the divine Fire. It emphasizes the sacrifice of worldly desires and the embrace of enlightenment. Through this union, the bride seeks to be enveloped in the beauty, ecstasy, and voice of the divine.

The poem’s brevity and rhythmic structure create a sense of urgency and intensity. It is similar to the author’s other works in its mystical themes and exploration of the soul’s journey. However, it differs in its focus on the individual’s surrender to the divine, rather than the larger cosmic struggles often found in his other works.

Contextually, the poem aligns with the early 20th-century trend of spiritual exploration and the search for deeper meaning in life. It resonates with the desire for transcendence and union with the divine that permeated this era

The Golden Light

Thy golden Light came down into my brain
And the grey rooms of mind sun-touched became
A bright reply to Wisdom’s occult plane,
A calm illumination and a flame.

Thy golden Light came down into my throat,
And all my speech is now a tune divine,
A paean-song of Thee my single note;
My words are drunk with the Immortal’s wine.

Thy golden Light came down into my heart
Smiting my life with Thy eternity;
Now has it grown a temple where Thou art
And all its passions point towards only Thee.

Thy golden Light came down into my feet,
My earth is now Thy playfield and Thy seat.

Analysis The poem employs a structured progression, with each stanza representing a specific body part or aspect of the self. The golden light, a symbol of divine enlightenment, descends first into the brain, bringing clarity and illumination. It then moves to the throat, transforming speech into a divine song of praise. The heart becomes a temple for the divine presence, as passions are redirected towards it. Finally, the light enters the feet, consecrating the physical world as a playground for the divine.

Compared to Sri Aurobindo’s other works, “The Golden Light” is relatively straightforward and accessible in its language and imagery. It lacks the complex symbolism and philosophical depth found in some of his more esoteric writings. However, it remains a powerful expression of the transformative power of divine grace.

In the context of the early 20th century, when the poem was written, it represented a departure from the dominant literary trends of the time, which often emphasized reason, materialism, and skepticism. “The Golden Light” instead presented a vision of spiritual awakening, offering hope and solace to readers in a troubled and uncertain world

The Word of The Silence

A bare impersonal hush is now my mind,
A world of sight clear and inimitable,
A volume of silence by a Godhead signed,
A greatness pure, virgin of will.

Once on its pages Ignorance could write
In a scribble of intellect the blind guess of Time
And cast gleam-messages of ephemeral light,
A food for souls that wander on Nature’s rim.

But now I listen to a greater Word
Born from the mute unseen omniscient Ray:
The Voice that only Silence’ ear has heard
Leaps missioned from an eternal glory of Day.

All turns from a wideness and unbroken peace
To a tumult of joy in a sea of wide release.

Analysis (ai): This poem explores the transformative power of silence, shifting from a barren mind to a radiant world filled with divine guidance. Its language is simple and evocative, conveying a sense of vastness and liberation. Compared to the author’s other works, it resembles their focus on spiritual awakening and transcendence.

Set against the backdrop of its time, this poem echoes the growing interest in mysticism and the search for higher truths. Its rejection of “ephemeral light” and embrace of a “greater Word” aligns with the prevailing disillusionment with materialism and the desire for a deeper connection to the divine

Invitation

With wind and the weather beating round me
Up to the hill and the moorland I go.
Who will come with me? Who will climb with me?
Wade through the brook and tramp through the snow?

Not in the petty circle of cities
Cramped by your doors and your walls I dwell;
Over me God is blue in the welkin,
Against me the wind and the storm rebel.

I sport with solitude here in my regions,
Of misadventure have made me a friend.
Who would live largely? Who would live freely?
Here to the wind-swept uplands ascend.

I am the Lord of tempest and mountain,
I am the Spirit of freedom and pride.
Stark must he be and a kinsman to danger
Who shares my kingdom and walks at my side.

Analysis : This poem expresses a desire for freedom and a connection with nature. It is a call to adventure, to leave behind the constraints of society and to embrace the wilderness. The speaker is a solitary figure, at home in the wild, who invites others to join him.

The poem is characterized by its strong imagery and its use of the first person. The speaker’s voice is powerful and confident, and he speaks with authority about the natural world. The poem is also full of vivid descriptions of the landscape, which create a sense of the vastness and beauty of the natural world.

This poem is similar to other works by the author in its exploration of the natural world and its use of strong imagery. However, it is unique in its focus on the solitary figure of the speaker and his desire for freedom. The poem is also a product of its time, and it reflects the growing interest in the natural world that was a characteristic of the Romantic period.

Mirabai’s Poems on Love and Devotion

Sri Aurobindo Poems: A Spiritual Voice of Wisdom, Transformation, and Divine Vision