The River

A poem by Sri Aurobindo


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The Future Poetry > On Quantitative Metre



Ionic a majore pentameter catalectic. In one place an epitrite replaces the ionic.

The Future Poetry > The River

The River

Wild river in thy cataract far-rumoured and rash rapids to sea hasting,
Far now is that birth-place mid abrupt mountains and slow dreaming of lone valleys
Where only with blue heavens was rapt converse or green orchards with fruit leaning
Stood imaged in thy waves and, content, listened to thy rhapsody's long murmur.

Vast now in a wide press and a dense hurry and mass movement of thronged waters
Loud-thundering, fast-galloping, might, speed is the stern message of thy spirit,
Proud violence, stark claim and the dire cry of the heart's hunger on God's barriers
Self-hurled, and a void lust of unknown distance, and pace reckless and free grandeur.

Calm yet shall release thee; an immense peace and a large streaming of white silence,
Broad plains shall be thine, greenness surround thee, and wharved cities and life's labour
Long thou wilt befriend, human delight help with the waves' coolness, with ships' furrows
Thrill,—last become, self losing, a sea-motion and joy boundless and blue laughter.



Part VII : Pondicherry (Circa 1927-1947) > Poems Published in On Quantitative Metre   




How to read the color-coded changes below? 1. SABCL version : lines with any changes & specific changes 2. CWSA version : lines with any changes & specific changes

Sri-Aurobindo/books/collected-poems/the-river.txt CHANGED
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
1
1
  The River
2
- Wild river in thy cataract far-murmured and rash rapids to sea hasting,
2
+ Wild river in thy cataract far-rumoured and rash rapids to sea hasting,
3
3
  Far now is that birth-place mid abrupt mountains and slow dreaming of lone valleys
4
4
  Where only with blue heavens was rapt converse or green orchards with fruit leaning
5
5
  Stood imaged in thy waves and, content, listened to thy rhapsody's long murmur.
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ Proud violence, stark claim and the dire cry of the heart's hunger on God's barr
9
9
  Self-hurled, and a void lust of unknown distance, and pace reckless and free grandeur.
10
10
  Calm yet shall release thee; an immense peace and a large streaming of white silence,
11
11
  Broad plains shall be thine, greenness surround thee, and wharved cities and life's labour
12
- Long thou wilt befriend, human delight help with the waves' coolness, with ship's furrows
12
+ Long thou wilt befriend, human delight help with the waves' coolness, with ships' furrows
13
13
  Thrill,—last become, self losing, a sea-motion and joy boundless and blue laughter.

NOTES FROM EDITOR

  1. Three handwritten manuscripts precede the On Quantitative Metre revision work.