LOVE

When love beckons to you - follow him
though his ways are hard and steep
when his wings enfold you
yield to him though the sword hidden
among his pinions may wound you

And when he speaks to you – believe in him
though his voice may shatter your dreams
as the north wind lays waste the garden

For even as love crowns you
so shall he crucify you
even as he is for your growth
so is he for your pruning

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
he thrashes you to make you naked
sifts you to free you from your husks
he grinds you to whiteness
he kneads you until you are pliant

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire
that you may become sacred bread
for god’s sacred feast

But if in your fear you would seek
only love’s peace and love’s pleasure
then it is better for you to cover your nakedness
and pass out of love’s threshing floor

Into the season less world where
you shall laugh but not all of your laughter
and weep but not all of your tears

Love gives not but itself
and takes not but from itself
love possesses not nor would it be possessed
for love is sufficient unto love

But if you love and must needs have desires
let these be your needs and your desires

To melt and be like a running brook
that sings it’s melody to the night
to know the pain of too much tenderness
to be wounded by your own understanding of love
and to bleed willingly and joyfully

To wake at dawn with a winged heart
and give thanks for another day of loving
to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy
to return home at eventide with gratitude
and then to sleep with a prayer
for the beloved in your heart
and a song of praise upon your lips

All these things shall love do unto you
that you may know the secrets of your heart
and in that knowledge become
a fragment of life’s heart