Second Canticle, While I Slept
Embracing Love's Elusive Dance: Second Canticle Revelations
Lyrics
While I slept my heart was awake, keeping vigil
During my sleep, my inner self remained vigilant.
I heard my beloved he's knocking and saying,
I heard my beloved knocking and requesting entry.
"Please open to me, my beloved, my fair one,
My beloved urges me to open, addressing me as "my fair one."
for my head is wet with the dampness of night.
He explains his need, with his head wet from the night's dampness.
I have taken off my robe,
Contemplating whether to put on my robe after taking it off.
am I then to put it on?
Questioning the necessity of putting on the robe again.
I have bathed my feet,
Despite bathing my feet, hesitating to soil them again.
must I then soil them again?
My lover thrust his hand through the hole of the door,
My lover reaches through the door, causing excitement and fear.
my heart pounded, I trembled,
Heart pounding, trembling, and growing faint upon his touch.
and I grew faint when he spoke.
Emotional response to his words, feeling thrilled by his presence.
I was thrilled he was near.
Expressing joy that the beloved is near.
I rose up to open
Rising to open the door for my beloved.
to let my beloved come in
Intending to allow my beloved to enter.
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
Hands dripping with myrrh, a fragrant resin.
and my fingers were dripping of wetness
Fingers covered in wetness, possibly myrrh or another substance.
as I grasped the handle, the bolt of the lock
Grasping the handle, the bolt of the lock, also dripping with myrrh.
it too, dripped of from the myrrh.
I opened to my love
Opening the door to my love.
but he had already departed and gone
Realizing my beloved has already departed.
so I sought him but I could not find him
Seeking my beloved but unable to find him.
I called him, but he gave no answer to me. Song of Songs 5:2-6
Calling out to him, but receiving no response.
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