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Without a Place and With a Place

John of the Cross, John of the Cross poetry, Christian, Christian poetry, Catholic poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry,  poetry by John of the Cross
(1542 - 1591) Timeline

English version by
Willis Barnstone

Original Language
Spanish

Christian : Catholic
16th Century

Without a place and with a place
to rest -- living darkly with no ray
of light -- I burn my self away.

My soul -- no longer bound -- is free
from the creations of the world;
above itself it rises hurled
into a life of ecstasy,
leaning only on God. The world
will therefore clarify at last
what I esteem of highest grace:
my soul revealing it can rest
without a place and with a place.

Although I suffer a dark night
in mortal life, I also know
my agony is slight, for though
I am in darkness without light,
a clear heavenly life I know;
for love gives power to my life,
however black and blind my day,
to yield my soul, and free of strife
to rest -- living darkly with no ray.

Love can perform a wondrous labor
which I have learned internally,
and all the good or bad in me
takes on a penetrating savor,
changing my soul so it can be
consumed in a delicious flame.
I feel it in me as a ray;
and quickly killing every trace
of light -- I burn my self away.

 

 

-- from To Touch the Sky: Poems of Mystical, Spiritual & Metaphysical Light, Translated by Willis Barnstone

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Bliss
  Fire
  Freedom
  Light
  Lover and Beloved


Recommended Books


All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time, by Robert Ellsberg
Ascent of Mount Carmel: St. John of the Cross, by John of the Cross / Translated by Henry L. Carrigan Jr.
A Bilingual Edition of Poems By ST. John of the Cross; Spiritual Songs and Ballads., by John of the Cross / Translated by Kenneth Canatsey
Collected Works of St. John of the Cross: St. John of the Cross, Edited by Kieran Kavanaugh
Dark Night of the Soul, by John of the Cross / Translated by Mirabai Starr

More >>

 

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.