The night was dark now and the day long past
When I went out.
The fears that had afflicted me consumed
At length by love’s desires, no longer loomed,
And quiet now possessed my house at last.
Secure, though in the darkness of that ground
And in disguise,
I climbed the secret ladder in my yearning,
And what desire within my heart was burning!
While never from my house was heard a sound.
And secretly on that most happy night,
Unseeing and
Unseen by any other, with that fire
I mounted, and the flame of that desire
Within me, was my guide and only light.
Dark night, and yet more surely did I tread
Unto the place––
Than had I gone at midday in the Sun––
Unto the place where none could be but One
Whom well I knew, so surely was I led.
How beautiful this night that was my guide!
More lovely than
The light of dawn. Oh night that did discover
The belov’d at last united with her Lover
Transformed in Him, forever to abide.
For here He slept and here He took His rest,
Where I allowed no other;
And I caressed Him in the gentle breeze,
The air fragrant from the moving Cedar trees;
His head reclining on my flowering breast.
And when the wind from the battlements descended,
And its gust
Disturbed His hair, my yearning soul was stayed
And wounded by the gentle hand He laid
Upon my neck, and all my sense suspended.
All cares forgotten now and all released
Among the lilies,
Myself abandoned never more to rouse,
My face laid upon my Loving Spouse,
I went out from myself and all things ceased. |
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