On the Pathway   Across the fields of twilit grasses, you have come to share my dream, O brother of the haunting echoes, soon our souls will be a gleam Out-flung upon the blue-grey spaces, cleansed within the cooling mist, And shining white with pureness we shall move towards the promised Tryst... The shades of evening stir and gather, quiet in the templed woods, Where Peace dwells, a silent saint, and ever on their beauty broods; We walk within the dark green chambers, seeking for the altar-throne, Through miles and miles of branch-built aisles, that keep their secret cold and lone. The paths are filled with age

Moon-vigil   Within tonight's moon-vigil, Open, O lotus heart; White peace is over the waters, The darkness cleaves apart To shining caves of being, Spaces of endless light, Illumined through the ages By moons beyond our sight. ... Page-9

Figures of Light   Consider how behind the darkness Ever those wondrous figures gleam, All clothed in light and tender beauty, And haunt us in the paths of dream.   Radiant with love and silent wisdom, They move within our hearts and minds, Sustain and sanctify our being, And cut the knots our Karma binds.   Eternal strength, eternal patience, Carry our stumblings through earth's night; Soft hands of Grace and deep compassion Open the gateways of delight. Page-144

Let me come back   Now if the debt is paid, the piled arrears Of ancient follies strung on the Karmic chain, Let me come back, let white light break again Through these thick walls, and Agni's flame-blades pierce The dead hard blocks. Burn up the tears, the fears, Restore the purity of heart and brain, Release the yearning spirit pent in pain, And cleanse the clots of all the wounded years.   Let me come back. Annul the black decree, The brand upon my soul burnt by your Will, The being's labour in the fields of night. Is not the exile over? How long still Must I thus linger? Is it fair or right? — Let me come back to you.

-087_Krishna's Coming Krishna's Coming   Around my heart I set gold trellis, And hung the roof with filligree, For Krishna of the myriad splendours Was coming with his pageantry;   I wove a golden fairy-netting, And worked it in with jewelry, For Krishna of the shining joy-songs Was coming in his pomp to me.   Ah, everything and everywhere I decked with pearl and diamond lace, With exquisite and quiet care  To fashion a chamber for his Grace.   When all was ready, the fire bright, Love's silent sacrificial flame, I sat within its rapturous light Awaiting him. And...yes, He came. Page-87

Winds of Sense   All the stupid winds of sense Rush their gates in ceaseless flow, To reach the four directions whence The universal life-breaths blow;   And passion-haunted, passion-roused, Storm through the world in idiot glee, In wrecking restlessness unhoused And falling in the nether sea.   From there in frantic shapes again They rise and cloud the heart and mind; Till dark delirium racks the brain And black fires turn the vision blind.   The wise of soul all close the gates, And fasten them against that night; The fool of life but dissipates The beauty of his Love's delight. Page-123

Blue Silence   Now all is over and done, No vagrant dreams arise, The magic of moon and sun Is lost within the skies.   Now all is gathered peace Within the heart's white cave, The calm of shining seas Uncreased by wind or wave.   Within these solitudes No drunk earth-voices come, Only blue silence broods In caverns lone and dumb. Page-73

Rift and Reconciliation   Measuring the unfound thought I founder; there is no measure within these mind-scapes; there is no leisure, no time to stand or understand...wild shapes intermingle, make quick rhyme with oddly gestures; wriggle, chuckle through heart-holes or arrow-shoot through will, chill, chuck and hoot the reasOn-formings, storming the well-pieced, well-collected, respected sentiments of old; of old — hell-priced, well-delecting intellect in their lolled indifferences. O crack, O smash through these perversions; Think straight, think swift; Rift of ages between will and desire links u

Demeter and Persephone A MYSTERY PLAY THÉMIS SRI AUROBINDO INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF EDUCATION PONDICHERRY First Published 21 February 1995 (Typeset in 11/13 Palatino) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My sincere thanks go to all my friends who have encouraged me to publish this play and specially to the friend who has in addition financed the publication. © Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1995 Published by Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry, 605 002 PRINTED IN INDIA

ACT IV SCENE 1 A room in Zeus' palace. He is looking out of a large window. Ananke, unveiled, stands a little behind him. Zeus Behold, Ananke, how the earth has blossomed Since that gold dawn when thy strong sanctioning word Put its white seal upon my Will, and I Sent forth my child divine into those depths, The rocky dark abyss where Pluto reigns - My child, my Fire-Soul, to dwell within his Night. Ananke I saw and sanctioned thy vast, all-wise plan. Zeus So too, Demeter, loving my pure Will, Consented to the Separation hard, And gave our child, a portion of herself, Self of her self, made of her light and bliss;