Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

CWSA 27

Fragment ID: 6797

The Genesis of Winged with dangerous deity

Your model is exceedingly difficult for the English language – for this reason that except in lines closing with triple rhymes the language draws back from a regular dactylic ending – more still from a dactylic last foot to a stanza. It can be done perhaps in a rhymeless lyrical movement such as Arnold was fond of, taking his inspiration from the Greek choruses – a first unconscious step towards the licence of free verse. I have at any rate made the following attempt.

Winged with dangerous deity,

Passion swift and implacable

Arose and, storm-footed

In the dim | heart of him,

Ran, insatiate, conquering,

Worlds devouring and hearts of men,

Then perished, broken by

The irres|istible

Occult masters of destiny,–

They who sit in the secrecy

And watch un|moved ever

Unto the | end of all.

But there are several snags here. Especially the tribrach is difficult to keep up: the average reader will turn it into a dactyl or amphibrach. I started a rhymed endeavour also, but had no time to pursue it; it is not easy either.

20 June 1934