St.
John of the Cross
Dark
Night of the Soul
1. On
a dark night,
kindled
in love with yearnings
-
--oh, happy chance!--
I went
forth without being observed,
my
house being now at rest.
2. In
darkness and secure,
by the
secret ladder, disguised
- --oh,
happy chance!--
in
darkness and in concealment,
my
house being now at rest.
3. In
the happy night,
in
secret, when none saw me,
nor I
beheld aught,
without
light or guide,
save
that which burned in my heart.
4.
This light guided me
more
surely than the light of noonday
to the
place where he was awaiting me
-
--well I knew who!--
a
place where none appeared.
5. Oh,
night that guided me,
oh,
night more lovely than the dawn,
oh,
night that joined
beloved
with lover,
lover
transformed in the Beloved!
6.
Upon my flowery breast,
kept
wholly for himself alone,
there
he stayed sleeping,
and I
caressed him,
and
the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.
7. The
breeze blew from the turret
as I
parted his locks;
with
his gentle hand
he
wounded my neck
and
caused all my senses to be suspended.
8. I
remained, lost in oblivion;
my
face I reclined on the Beloved.
All
ceased and I abandoned myself,
leaving
my cares
forgotten
among the lilies.