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The Dark Night - San Juan de la Cruz (tr. T. Capuano)
In the darkness of night Burning with love, aflame in yearning Oh blessed endeavor! I stole away, unnoticed When all my house had settled in its slumber.
Through the dark, unerring Down a secret ladder no one noticed Oh blessed endeavor! Through the darkness, hidden When all my house had settled in its slumber.
Through the wondrous darkness In secret; there was no one there to see me! Nor saw I any other, No other light to lead me No other light than that which flamed within me.
And how it led me! No glare of midday could have led more surely To where, alone, he waited Where no one else would notice, To where the One I knew so well was waiting.
Oh darkness, how you led me! Oh night of wonders, lovelier than daybreak Oh darkness! Then you joined us, Two lovers touched in darkness Two lovers, she in him and into him transforming.
On my rising breast Kept for him alone, for him completely There he fell asleep And I caressed him, The cedars stirred, arousing gentle breezes.
A breath of air from the parapet -- While I caressed his forehead -- With its soft hand Swept by my neck, And all my senses held aloft, suspended.
Relinquishing my worries, Letting go, my head fell on his shoulder All fell hushed, I yielded All my cares behind me, left forgotten In among the lilies, left forgotten.
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