To a Spanish Friend

Exiled in America From thine old Castilia, Son of holy Avila! Leave thine endless tangled lore, As in childhood to implore Her, whose pleading evermore Pleads for her own Avila.

Seraph Saint, Teresa burns Before God, and burning turns To the Furnace, whence she learns How the Sun of Love is lit: She the Sunflower following it. O fair ardour infinite: Fire, for which the cold soul yearns!

Clad in everlasting fire, Flame of one long, lone desire, Surely thou too shalt aspire Up by Carmel's bitter road: Love thy goal and love thy goad, Love thy lightness and thy load, Love thy rose and love thy briar.

Leave the false light, leave the vain: Lose thyself in Night again, Night divine of perfect pain. Lose thyself, and find thy God, Through a prostrate period: Bruise thee with an iron rod; Suffer, till thyself be slain.

Fly thou from the dazzling day, For it lights the downward way: In the sacred Darkness pray, Till prayer cease, or seem to thee Agony of ecstasy: Dead to all men, dear to me, Live as saints, and die as they.

Stones and thorns shall tear and sting, Each stern step its passion bring, On the Way of Perfecting, On the Fourfold Way of Prayer: Heed not, though joy fill the air; Heed not, though it breathe despair: In the City thou shalt sing.

Without hope and without fear, Keep thyself from thyself clear: In the secret seventh sphere Of thy soul's hid Castle, thou At the King's white throne shalt bow: Light of Light shall kiss thy brow, And all darkness disappear.