Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Holy Longing -- Goethe


Tell a wise person, or else keep it silent.
Because the massman will mock it right away.
I praise what is truly alive,
what longs to be burned to death.

In the calm water of the love-nights,
where you were begotten, where you have been begotten,
a strange feeling comes over you
when you are the silent candle burning.

Now you are no longer caught
in the obsession with darkness,
and a desire for higher lovemaking
sweeps you upward.

Distance does not make you falter,
now, arriving in magic, flying,
and finally, insane for the light,
you are the butterfly and you are gone.

And so long as you haven't experienced
this: to die and so to grow,
you are only a troubled guest
on the dark earth.

4 comments:

  1. I needed this. Thank you.

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  2. :-) Me too....I found it in the book "Broken Open" by Elizabeth Lesser. A great read..... take care, and stay in touch. Love, Susannah

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  3. Anonymous2:39 AM

    Just found this blog, looking forward to reading more. Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser had a profound impact on me. Here is an amazing website I just found www.kimrosen.net

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  4. Anonymous12:53 PM

    If you go to youtube and look for Kim Rosen you can listen to her recite poems with beautiful cello in the background.

    ReplyDelete