Translated by A. Z. Foreman - The Dark Night of the Soul lyrics

Songs of the soul rejoicing at having achieved the high state of perfection, the Union with God, by way of spiritual negation. Once in the dark of night, Inflamed with love and yearning, I arose (O coming of delight!) And went, as no one knows, When all my house lay long in deep repose All in the dark went right, Down secret steps, disguised in other clothes, (O coming of delight!) In dark when no one knows, When all my house lay long in deep repose. And in the luck of night In secret places where no other spied I went without my sight Without a light to guide Except the heart that lit me from inside. It guided me and shone Surer than noonday sunlight over me, And led me to the one Whom only I could see Deep in a place where only we could be. O guiding dark of night! O dark of night more darling than the dawn! O night that can unite A lover and loved one, Lover and loved one moved in unison. And on my flowering breast Which I had kept for him and him alone He slept as I caressed And loved him for my own, Breathing an air from redolent cedars blown. And from the castle wall The wind came down to winnow through his hair Bidding his fingers fall, Searing my throat with air And all my senses were suspended there. I stayed there to forget. There on my lover, face to face, I lay. All ended, and I let My cares all fall away Forgotten in the lilies on that day.