The sleep floating through my mind, wafting over thoughts
Is the intoxicating odor of my Beloved, a last
Attempt to call His Beloved into His arms to be still and
Take rest from the load of care she wears about her
Neck, the yoke she cannot bear to part with.
The insufficient self knows it wrecks deprivation, but
Cursed to feed a mandrake-living earth with blood,
It toils endlessly, till falling back in a pile of dust,
It reaches its end and completion in a soul sleep.
Stumbling to the close of antoehr day, the endless
Crucifixion, drawing down to another grave as
Pitch black as the night-consuming starlight;
The dark veil of shame or rest descends, always
Entertaining within it, the Beloved’s hands to draw
Away His Bride to Himself, when she cannot resist—
She is no longer herself when Lost in His arms;
More fully so in the deep rest of dreams, only
Treated to know the first taste of the gift of blessed awarelessness
A quick glance of the numbing soul sleep which
Seems a solace to the life without cease, the peace
To the waking who toil in bitter outcast of heaven… light
Shod in futile works of her hands, being pricked and prodded
And giving over each treasure she had, becoming desolate as
A beggar, spiritless tramp, numb and broken as street-corner whore just to
Live a breath longer, eat a bite of bread, bask in the sun…
But what living death, to continually hate what must be done
And yet continue it instead, ignoring weeping, crumbling soul…
Cries of body inside the self-wrought case of
Coffin-like pride which masks all pain
And allows more exploitation of the Bride—yet from the
Bridegroom’s touch, these shameful things cannot be hidden..
He weeps to embrace faithless Bride in His arms, the joy
Of lost lover, tears mingling as the pain
Is felt strong, flowing from the heart she has broken
Again, her own heart—begging now to please
Be relieved of this sin, hiding, not breathing, He uncovers
Her shame, with His kiss and His touch…
She shrinks back from the love without lust, burning in grief
Even to hear His voice call her name, it resurrects trembling
Knowing of love, conflicting with guilt from actions before.
This night all is forgiven, the love breaks old chains,
She is set free into His embrace again, and in sleep,
He holds her fast to His breast.