On Love

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 him
And when he speaks to you believe in him
Though his voice may shatter your dreams
Love crowns and crucify you
Love for your growth so is for your pruning
Love will caresses your tenderest branches
And shake in clinging
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
He threshes and sifts you
He grinds and kneads you
And then he assigns you 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
A fragment of life's heart
Now if in your fear you seek only love's peace and love's pleasure
That cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh
But not all your laughter
And weep 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 enough
You should say I am in the heart of god
You can not direct the course of love
Love finds you worthy directs your course
To wake at dawn with a winged heart
To come home at evening with gratitude
Then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart
And a song of praise upon your lips