Canto 89I made danger my helper
Book 16. Part Seven - Pondicherry Circa 1927 – 1947
Pondicherry, c. 1927–1947
A strong son of lightning
A strong son of lightning came down to the earth with fire-feet
of swiftness splendid;
5Light was born in a womb and thunder’s force filled a
human frame.
The calm speed of heaven, the sweet greatness, pure passion,
winged power had descended;
All the gods in a mortal body dwelt, bore a single name.
10A wide wave of movement stirred all the dim globe in each
glad and dreaming fold.
Life was cast into grandeur, ocean hands took the wheels
of Time.
Man’s soul was again a bright charioteer of days hired by gods
15impetuous, bold,
Hurled by One on His storm-winged ways, a shaft aimed
at heights sublime.
The old tablets clanging fell, ancient slow Nature’s dead wall
was rent asunder,
20God renewed himself in a world of young beauty, thought
and flame:
Divine voices spoke on men’s lips, the heart woke to white
dawns of gleaming wonder,
Air a robe of splendour, breath a joy, life a godlike game.
25I made danger my helper
I made danger my helper and chose pain for thy black anvil my
strength hammering to sheen,
And have reckoned the snare and the pit as nought for
the hope of one lonely ray;
30I turned evil into good, drew out of grief force and returned
love to the hate in men: