Of Love

• Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.

• And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

• When love beckons to you, follow him,

• Though his ways are hard and steep.

• And 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 for your growth so is he for your pruning.

• Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

• So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

• Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

• He threshes you to make you naked.

• He sifts you to free you from your husks.

• He grinds you to whiteness.

• He kneads you until you are pliant;

• And then he assigns y to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

• 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.

• But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,

• Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

• Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

• Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

• Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

• For love is sufficient unto love.

• When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."

• And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

• Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

• But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desire:

• To melt and be like a running brook that sings its 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.