0 minstrel, raise thy plaintive melody,
and let thy song be tender to my soul:
upon the subtle ninefold modes of love
display the secrets of a lover’s heart.
One moment parted from the Friend, I die:
revive my heart with thy life-giving stream
that I may come into the lovers’ ring
and grace the lovers’ circle. Let me pass
one moment from the world, and for an hour
I will not heed my selfhood: being lost
to this false being, let me swiftly move
to realms of drunkenness where, like the drunk,
I will commence the dance, and raise the cry
of yearning love – for truly I do yearn
for my Beloved – standing in the field
of high ambition. I will shake my wings
like sacrificial bird, and fly at last
from empty word to true reality.
Then will I tell in order, each by each,
the beauty of the Friend, the lover’s love.
(Jacopone da Todi)
More Poetry from Jacopone da Todi:
Jacopone da Todi Poems based on Topics: Love, Cry, Soul, Birds, Dancing, Secrets, Reality, Friendship, Beauty, Ambition, World- Sing for Very Love (Jacopone da Todi Poems)
- The Soul's Over-Ardent Love (Jacopone da Todi Poems)
- Rapture Divine (Jacopone da Todi Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, World Poems, Soul Poems, Friendship Poems, Cry Poems, Beauty Poems, Birds Poems, Secrets Poems, Dancing Poems, Ambition Poems, Reality PoemsBased on Keywords: ninefold, selfhood