-130_All's Over All's Over   All's over. Is the last word said? Ah, isn't there some melody So magic-sweet it wakes the dead, With spells of old from across the sea?   Or is there not some faerie spring Of sun-charged waters, hidden deep Within our hill, whose touch can bring Life once again to those who sleep?   We knew once of a sacred flame Burning in midnight caves, whose kiss Of ardour had the power to claim The dead back from the dark abyss.   Where is that fire, that fount, that spell? And whose the robe of purity To find the sealed cave 'neath the hill, To walk upon that unknown sea? Page-132

A Voice   Should I be thought worthy to speak my prayer, From midst these broken and imperfect things, Where we are exiles — who were meant for kings, — I'd speak it on the shattered night's despair, On the lone dark of thudding waters where Dim sea-mews brood, unlit, with folded wings; Or boldly as the innocent sparrow flings Its heart on the dangerous widenesses of air:   Till through the splintered spaces of the earth, A voice go forth informing every soul With one deep beauty, with one passionate fire Infusing all unto the Primal Whole; Till through all sorrow struggle to their birth The perfect worlds and skies of our Des

What was it?   Was it a smile in the blue radiant night? — We climbed a stairway as into opening skies, A-throb with strange pulsations, ancient ties Of love and longing, and hidden deep delight; Silent and tense we went, so still and white The mind with inward power; no bright surmise Nor dream nor trail of sunlit memories Could ever know that ecstasy of sight.   What was it? Sovereign Beauty seated there, Or Love incarnate pouring all its grace? A marvellous Presence filling all the air With sweetness so ineffable, awhile Our souls enraptured in its pure embrace Lay lost? — Or was it just one luminous smile? Page-92

Adwaita   Who touched me? Shapes of music whisper Of lonely memories which pass Across the spirit's stillness, murmuring  "All flesh is grass".   Who touched me? Shapes of music answer;  "A wandering world-lost melody Passed out into the wild night, saying, 'My soul is free'."   Where music spun its strange, fine soul-webs, Turning each thought to song of dew, Who touched me in the darkness, saying, "But who are you?" Page-64

One Pure Word   I would not speak the speech of mortals, When I would speak with Thee; Our words are dim and shadowy portals That veil sincerity.   I would not — yet the speech of gods Is far beyond my reach; — Wherein the vibrant truth-light fills Dark lacks of human speech.   The darkness breaks up all we say, One thought splits up another; Alone among the splints of words Gleams one pure love-word: "Mother".   On this one word I hang my song, My life, my soul, my all: The world's night swallows everything, I let the silence fall   Around my words; I know Thy Grace, Know Thy compassion sweet Ga

Every Form   Over all the earth and sky Golden gifts of beauty lie; Did you see the lovely Hand That scattered over sea and land Forms of rich beatitude, Mirroring in every mood Of line and hue and delicate tone Mysteries of worlds unknown? Did you see the flaming Heart Infinity's white doorways part, Pouring out the stars and suns And the fiery light that runs From vale to peak and over the hill, — Fiat of His mighty Will. Over all the sky and earth, Innumerable sparks of mirth; Over all the lands and seas, Ineffable sweet melodies. And every flash and every glow Is He Himself, if we would kno

Awakening   The paths of the moon curve and falter Within the gulfing night; The horizons undulate and alter, The keen stars take their flight.   The soul, asleep within the waters, Unfolded and alone, Stirs restive in the silent grottos, Adream with the Unknown.   The strong winds rock the earth to pieces, And trees uprooted lie; The spirit muses and increases Beyond the unbarred sky.   The searching joy-rays run their fingers Reluming through the deeps Each soul-drop where the darkness lingers,  And God's white glory sleeps. Page-8

Your Coming   Laughter of light, Laughter of love, Through spaces of stillness Break forth above.   I know you are coming. For everywhere Reverberates Your Name Through earth and air...   In bud and blossom, In star and tree, Intense and vibrant Your melody.   And I know you are here, Deep, deep within; For all the outer spaces Have just caved in. Page-149

First Edition 1952 Second Edition 1994   (Typeset in Palatino 11/14)         ISBN 81-7058-383-7 © Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust 1994 Published by Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education Printed at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Press, Pondicherry PRINTED IN INDIA

Memories   Sometimes I wonder what voices speak Within the strains that come to us; Perhaps a chorus from the Greek, Perhaps some echo mysterious   Of melodies of Spain or France, Or lilt of English country-song; Faint rhythms of an Indian dance; — To whom do all these tunes belong?   The rivers of far ages flow With a thousand muffled murmurings To subterranean wells below, From where our inner fountain springs.   The dreams of many by-gone earths Mingle within our memories, And memories of other births, And life in other realms than these.   So charged each word with inward stress Reverberates from cave