Savitri: Book 4, Canto 2, Section 1, Part 1

A mind daring heavenly experiment,

Growing towards some largeness they felt near,

Testing the unknown’s bound with eager touch

They still were prisoned by their human grain:

They could not keep up with her tireless step;

Too small and eager for her large-paced will,

Too narrow to look with the unborn Infinite’s gaze

Their nature weary grew of things too great.

For even the close partners of her thoughts

Who could have walked the nearest to her ray,

Worshipped the power and light they felt in her

But could not match the measure of her soul.

A friend and yet too great wholly to know,

She walked in their front towards a greater light,

Their leader and queen over their hearts and souls,

One close to their bosoms, yet divine and far.

Admiring and amazed they saw her stride

Attempting with a godlike rush and leap

Heights for their human stature too remote

Or with a slow great many-sided toil

Pushing towards aims they hardly could conceive;

Yet forced to be the satellites of her sun

They moved unable to forego her light,

Desiring they clutched at her with outstretched hands

Or followed stumbling in the paths she made.

Or longing with their self of life and flesh

They clung to her for heart’s nourishment and support:

The rest they could not see in visible light;

Vaguely they bore her inner mightiness.

Or bound by the senses and the longing heart,

Adoring with a turbid human love,

They could not grasp the mighty spirit she was

Or change by closeness to be even as she.

Some felt her with their souls and thrilled with her,

A greatness felt near yet beyond mind’s grasp;

To see her was a summons to adore,

To be near her drew a high communion’s force.