LOTUS PETALS   Au Revoir How long shall this au revoir last, Mother sweet! Thy Presence comes, but it goes too fast On lightning feet. It brings with it the blissful ray, Serenely pure, The golden dawn, the promised day, Dark sorrow's cure. Thy breath awakes me in an air With star-bloom scented; Where floats my dream-world fine and fair To which tormented Souls like mine would fain retire For rhythmed rest Engulfed in Love's entrancing fire, In Eternity's breast. Thy holy touch with magic power, (Too little enduring!) Brings t

    Mother Mahakali   A limpid lightning-flame in tempest-dance On the breast of Time prostrate and motionless, Star-sparks through space fly forth from Her fire intense And the stress of Her steps whose speed no light can trace.   She leaps to break the pride of Titan might And win for God His Kingdoms lost to Death; Her glowing glance drives through the core of Night; None can withstand Her crimson flash of wrath.   A moment of Her pressing white heat scores Achievements great where failed a sluggish age; For Fate in awe Her conquering flame adores That packs with glories

      The Moon   On silver skates the moon is gliding Over heavens of icy blue, And swimming clouds with their snow-dust are hiding Her lovely face of milk-foam hue.   How her rich gossamer hair is flowing And the ether-winds with joy are athrill; The stars are frozen light-drops glowing In her tresses like sparkling points in a rill.   Alluring the smile upon her face; Her heart is a fountain of delight, All gloom dissolves in her light's embrace, Love's eyes of dream grow awake and bright.   10-11-1930   Be Gone Be

-01_Author's Note AUTHOR'S NOTE I had never even dreamt of writing Poetry in English, although I was familiar with writing it in my mother-tongue, Gujarati, since my High School days. But it so happened that in the early years of our Ashram here a movement of writing poems in English started and a few enthusiasts launched upon that enterprise with Harin Chattopadhyay as a brilliant example before them. I too was one of such enthusiasts and although I was poorly equipped with the knowledge of English and English poetry I began to exercise my pen and with the Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's inner and outer encouragement and ever-ready help had not much difficulty in making a tolerably good beginning