This is a poem dealing with an ambiguous asceticism… On the one hand, this asceticism is necessary; on the other, it is in danger of going too far, of cutting off the very life it is attempting to heal. “My soul” is the Self that is beyond the identity of “I”. This poem is from my recently-published collection Black Sun: Poems 1965-1985 (Finishing Line Press, 2014) which can be purchased here. Photograph 'Dark River' by Ziut Klosinski The Meeting with God I, who do not know my own soul’s name have already seen her, disguised as the shadow of a river, saying to me: “Cry as much as you can for you cannot live another day without meeting God. Your heart cannot be broken more.” When I came back into the world all those of the world made me forget you, saying that I’d loved you more than anyone could love God; God would punish me, they all said, by making me love even more. How can I pretend not to know you when I have...
Women's Spiritual Poetry