Saint John of the Cross: Selected Poems (Saint John of the Cross: meditative works)

Saint John of the Cross: Selected Poems (Saint John of the Cross: meditative works)

Saint John of the Cross: Selected Poems This selection of five poems by St John of the Cross begins with one composed during his months in captivity. Its subject is the divine mystery that fills and sustains the universe, a mystery the poet knows by faith. It is followed by a popular love song that he took and made into a lyric about the sufferings of Christ. The imagery of human love continues in the three major poems that remain, each of which shows the influence of the Song of Songs . In the Song ’s portrayal of human lovers, and its many parallels in the love poetry of his day, St John found a language in which to express the longing of the soul for God and the joy of union with Him. This edition presents the poems in Spanish, with a facing-page English translation. Terence O’Reilly is Professor Emeritus of Spanish at University College Cork and a member of the Royal Irish Academy.