San Juan de la Cruz

Spiritual Verses


Seeking love always
with hope that cannot falter
I flew ever higher
till I overtook my prey.



So I might seize the prey
in this divine venture
I flew ever higher
from sight was forced to stray,

yet love so far did fly
that though in my flight
I faltered in the height
I caught the prey on high.



II

As higher I ascended
so the hardest conquest
came about in darkness,
all my sight was dazzled:

yet since love was my prey
from blind dark a leaper
I flew on ever higher
till I overtook the prey.



III
In this highest game,
the further I ascended
the humbler, more subdued
more abased I became.

‘None attains it’, I did say.
I sank down lower, lower,
yet I rose higher, higher
and so I took the prey.



IV
My one flight in strange manner
surpassed a hundred thousand
for the hope of highest heaven
attains the end it hopes for:

there hope alone did fly
unfaltering in the height:
hope, seeking in its flight,
I caught the prey on high.