Canto 15The River
Book 16. Part Seven - Pondicherry Circa 1927 – 1947
Poems Published in On Quantitative Metre
The River
Wild river in thy cataract far-rumoured and rash rapids to sea
hasting,
5Far 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
10long 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,
15Proud 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
20of 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
25Thrill, — last become, self losing, a sea-motion and joy boundless
and blue laughter.