Light

You run in my veins as if you were sap,
And like some garment my being enwrap;
Your manifold shades fill my sense with your balm,
And leave me to gaze at your abounding charm.
Though the sun may leave you, you follow your road,
Crossing all bourns to our hearts your abode.
Light, radiant like fire or diffused and vaporous,
Seen or unseen, bright and clear or mysterious,
Sources you had that once did shine
With particular wisdom in ancient time
On Olympus ’s summit as god or as titan,
But we turn now to Christ the victor of Satan.
Contemplative Light, my heart to you speaks,
The heart calls to hearts, not rebels it seeks.
In the paths of the night, from hidden fire,
Give light to my soul and words inspire.
Give me the cup of your inspiration
For a draught to bring mercy in my creation.
Though silent, your rays your beauty refine
As in darkness the grape-juice matures to wine.
In summer the sun gave grapes their sweet flavor
In darkness and cold their juice gives new savor.
To touch and to seize you, a rose sweet and fragile,
To embrace you, fleet light, dancing and agile,
Savoring the masses you model in passing,
To love you, adore you, my goddess, my passion.
To want to be lost where your splendors begin
To wander alone there, can this be a sin?

Joseph Matar
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Translated from French: K.J.Mortimer