Thinking Activity
This Blog is written in response to the thinking activity assigned by Megha ma'am on Sri Aurobindo's poem "To a Hero-Worshipper".
Sri Aurobindo:
- The Life Divine
- Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol
- The Synthesis of Yoga
- Essays on the Gita
- The Ideal of Human Unity
- The Human Cycle: The Psychology of Social Development
- The Human Cycle, Ideal of Human Unity, War and Self Determination
- The Upanishads
- Secret of the Veda
- Hymns to the Mystic Fire
To a Hero-Worshipper
This poem, titled "To a Hero-Worshipper," was written by Sri Aurobindo, a prominent Indian philosopher, poet, and nationalist leader. The poem appears to be addressed to someone who admires the poet as a hero or a figure of great importance. In this poem, Sri Aurobindo reflects on his own identity as a poet and his unique style of writing.
This poem is divided into two parts:
Part 1:
In the first part, the poet addresses the hero-worshipper and acknowledges that his life and poetry may not conform to conventional expectations. He suggests that his poetry may not have the qualities often associated with great poets, such as melodious and pleasing rhymes or the use of vivid imagery. Instead, he characterizes his own poetry as "harsh figures with harsh music wound" and questions whether it is merely a collection of beautiful words without deeper meaning. He also denies possessing any magical or divine qualities in his writing.
Part 2:
In the second part, Sri Aurobindo reflects on his early exploration of poetry and nature. He mentions that he once explored the world of imagination and studied nature like a book, trying to find meaning in its various forms. However, he confesses that he couldn't discover profound moral or messages in nature's beauty. He sees simple and pure beauty in ordinary things, like flowers and landscapes, and considers them as a poet's source of inspiration.
The stanza also presents the poet's self-identity. He compares himself to a nightingale in a moonlit vale, a bird that sings without understanding why, and a bird that doesn't stop singing for fear of losing its voice.
In this poem, Sri Aurobindo seems to embrace a more mystical and transcendent view of poetry and nature. He suggests that the beauty of the natural world itself is sufficient inspiration for his poetry, and he doesn't feel the need to ascribe profound meanings or messages to it. His poetry is portrayed as spontaneous and driven by the sheer delight of creation rather than a deliberate attempt to convey specific ideas or moral lessons.
Overall, "To a Hero-Worshipper" is a reflection on the poet's unique style and perspective on poetry, emphasizing the intrinsic beauty and inspiration found in the natural world. It also suggests that the poet's work may not fit traditional expectations but is a genuine expression of his inner experiences and feelings.
My life is then a wasted ereme,My song but idle windBecause you merely findIn all this woven wealth of rhymeHarsh figures with harsh music wound,The uncouth voice of gorgeous birds,A ruby carcanet of sound,A cloud of lovely words?
The poet begins by suggesting that his life may seem unproductive or unfulfilled ("wasted"). The word "ereme" refers to a hermitage or a secluded place, possibly implying that his life's work might not be readily apparent to others. The poet likens his poetry to "idle wind," suggesting that it may be perceived as inconsequential or lacking substance. The poet implies that the hero-worshipper (the person he is addressing) does not find value or depth in his poetry ("woven wealth of rhyme"). The poet characterizes his own poetry as having "harsh figures" and "harsh music," indicating that it might not conform to traditional notions of beauty. He also describes it as the "uncouth voice of gorgeous birds," suggesting that his work might be perceived as strange or unconventional, despite its inherent beauty. Here, the poet questions whether his poetry is merely a collection of beautiful words and sounds without deeper meaning or significance.
I am, you say, no magic-rod,
No cry oracular,
No swart and ominous star,
No Sinai-thunder voicing God,
The poet acknowledges that the hero-worshipper does not see him as possessing magical or prophetic qualities. He is not seen as a divine messenger like the one who delivered God's commandments on Mount Sinai.
I have no burden to my song,
No smouldering word instinct with fire,
No spell to chase triumphant wrong,
No spirit-sweet desire.
The poet continues to emphasize his lack of specific themes or messages in his poetry. He doesn't claim to have a purpose or a specific message to convey. His words are not imbued with a passionate fire or a spell to combat injustice. He does not write from a place of intense desire.
Mine is not Byron’s lightning spear,
Nor Wordsworth’s lucid strain
Nor Shelley’s lyric pain,
Nor Keats’, the poet without peer.
The poet distinguishes his style from famous poets like Lord Byron and William Wordsworth, suggesting that he does not possess the dramatic intensity of Byron or the clear simplicity of Wordsworth. The poet also distinguishes himself from Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats, two renowned Romantic poets. He acknowledges that he does not share Shelley's lyrical pain or Keats' peerless poetic talent.
I by the Indian waters vast
Did glimpse the magic of the past,
And on the oaten-pipe I play
Warped echoes of an earlier day.
Here, the poet describes his source of inspiration as coming from the vast landscapes of India. He suggests that he has glimpsed the magic of ancient times and, like playing a simple musical instrument ("oaten-pipe"), he creates poetry that echoes the past.
My friend, when first my spirit woke,
I trod the scented maze
Of Fancy’s myriad ways,
I studied Nature like a book
The poet addresses the hero-worshipper directly, referring to their initial encounter when his creative spirit began to awaken. The poet recalls a time when he explored the world of imagination ("Fancy's myriad ways") and closely observed nature, trying to find meaning in its various forms.
Men rack for meanings; yet I find
No rubric in the scarlet rose,
No moral in the murmuring wind,
No message in the snow.
The poet acknowledges that people often search for deeper meanings in life and nature, but he personally does not find profound symbolism or explanations even in something as beautiful as a scarlet rose. He further emphasizes his inability to discover moral lessons or messages in the natural world, such as in the sound of the wind or the sight of snow.
For me the daisy shines a star,
The crocus flames a spire,
A horn of golden fire,
Narcissus glows a silver bar:
Cowslips, the golden breath of God,
I deem the poet’s heritage,
And lilies silvering the sod
Breathe fragrance from his page.
Despite his inability to find deeper meanings, the poet appreciates the inherent beauty of simple things in nature. He sees the daisy as a star, the crocus as a spire, and so on, emphasizing their intrinsic beauty without needing to ascribe deeper significance.
The poet suggests that flowers like cowslips and lilies, which he considers to be the "golden breath of God," are the true source of inspiration for poets. They bring fragrance and beauty to a poet's work.
No herald of the Sun am I,
But in a moon-lit veil1
A russet nightingale
Who pours sweet song, he knows not why,
Who pours like a wine2 a gurgling note
Paining with sound his swarthy throat,
Who pours sweet song, he recks not why,
Nor hushes ever lest he die.
The poet humbly states that he is not a messenger of the Sun or a grand figure. Instead, he compares himself to a nightingale singing in the moonlight, a bird that sings without understanding the reason behind its song. The nightingale's song is compared to wine, suggesting that it flows freely and naturally. The phrase "Paining with sound his swarthy throat" implies that the bird sings passionately, even to the point of discomfort, simply because it cannot help but sing. The nightingale continues to sing sweetly without understanding why it sings, and it never stops singing for fear of losing its voice or ceasing to exist.
In a nutshell, this poem is a reflection by Sri Aurobindo on his identity as a poet and the nature of his poetry. He contrasts his work with the expectations of hero-worshipper and society, emphasizing the simple beauty he finds in nature as his primary source of inspiration, rather than complex meanings or messages. The poem underscores the idea that his poetry is a spontaneous expression of beauty, akin to the natural world, and not driven by a specific agenda or purpose.
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