Talk of the Heart: The Birth of Love

Talk of the Heart

The Birth of Love

Pitch darkness lay upon the earth
Evil ran rampant and turned tyrant
striking with its fangs and its teeth
dealing death by outrage and by sin
sowing injustice and vice
while hope suffocated in men's breasts

* * *

And a star blazed out in the East
its glow dazzled mankind
and pierced through to their black designs
and they turned back to the fold of right guidance
and fell down beneath the whip of reproach —
in the abasement of remorse,
prostrate, imploring:
“Have mercy on us, O God, and guide us!
Wash away our sins
purify our consciences
we are Your straying sheep
we come back to You humbled
repentant!”

* * *

With the fervor of the prayer,
there rose from the cattle's manger
the cooing of a newborn child
like a rosebud...
Song fluttered on his lashes
contentment glistened on his lips
his head was crowned with light
and perfume breathed from his skin
the breaths of a lamb, a donkey, and a camel
embracing his white dreams and his hope
Halleluia... Halleluia!...
Lowliness vanquished tyranny
gentleness triumphed over injustice
purity wiped out sins
peace came down upon the earth
Love was born!