Poetic-Verses from ATHANASE
Skies Beyond Skies
Light of the kathisma, light,
psalm, take root in me!
Brightness
outside of forms,
above figures,
beyond words and gestures!
“Be faithful! Stay noble
at any cost!” – You say.
How can I achieve this without
the beauty of Your breath,
without the worm face,
the cradled wallflowers
of this Divine Service?
I am no longer my own
since You took Your place
In my eyes!
Your kiss made my whole
Body melt!
Where am I
now?
This nothing I've become,
to whom does it belong?
To whom
when the blood flows
from my mouth?
Alone now!
In this tireless silence
which never stops rising!
Like spring in the whiteness
of the fields and trees!
Alone, trembling with expectation,
my face lying in wait, dying to itself,
living on this thirst,
hands becoming
rivers of white birds!
Tell me, if I die in You
will I die of magnificence?
Ektenia! Avalanches of pure voices,
Songs in flower, perfect words!
“To whom will I go, now,
my sweet Lord?”
Word of life,
Chi Ro of lilies,
skies beyond skies!
Translated from the French by Norton Hodges
psalm, take root in me!
Brightness
outside of forms,
above figures,
beyond words and gestures!
“Be faithful! Stay noble
at any cost!” – You say.
How can I achieve this without
the beauty of Your breath,
without the worm face,
the cradled wallflowers
of this Divine Service?
I am no longer my own
since You took Your place
In my eyes!
Your kiss made my whole
Body melt!
Where am I
now?
This nothing I've become,
to whom does it belong?
To whom
when the blood flows
from my mouth?
Alone now!
In this tireless silence
which never stops rising!
Like spring in the whiteness
of the fields and trees!
Alone, trembling with expectation,
my face lying in wait, dying to itself,
living on this thirst,
hands becoming
rivers of white birds!
Tell me, if I die in You
will I die of magnificence?
Ektenia! Avalanches of pure voices,
Songs in flower, perfect words!
“To whom will I go, now,
my sweet Lord?”
Word of life,
Chi Ro of lilies,
skies beyond skies!
Translated from the French by Norton Hodges
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Skies Beyond Skies
Skies Beyond Skies
