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Noche oscura by San Juan de la Cruz translated by Eric Rosenbloom copyright 1999 In a dark night, With longings fired in love — O happy fate! — I went unnoticed, While my house was calm. In darkness, certain, By disguised and secret ladder — O happy fate! — In darkness, concealed, While my house was calm. In happy night, In secret, that nobody saw me, Nor I anything, No light and guide But what in my heart was burning. It guided me More surely than the midday light To where he waited, Who well I knew, There where no one appeared. O guiding night! O night more kind than break of day! O night that joined Love with love, Love in her lover transformed! On my flowering breast All kept for him alone — Left sleeping there — And I gave myself, And the cedars gave the air their smell. The scent of his brow When I spread his hair, His calm hand Hard on my neck, And all my senses suspended. I lost myself, I lay my face against my love, Everything stopped, My cares were left Between the lilies all forgotten. |