Four Poems of St. Teresa of Avila

If, Lord, Thy love for me is strong
As this which binds me unto thee,
What holds me from thee Lord so long,
What holds thee Lord so long from me?
O soul, what then desirest thou?
Lord I would see thee, who thus choose thee.
What fears can yet assail thee now?
All that I fear is but lose thee.
Love's whole possession I entreat,
Lor make my soul thine own abode,
And I will build a nest so sweet
It may not be too poor for God.
A sould in God hidden from sin,
What more desires for thee remain,
Save but to love again,
And all on flame with love within,
Love on, and turn to love again.

Shepherd, shepherd, hark that calling!
Angels they are and the day is dawning.
What is this ding-dong,
Or loud singing is it?
Come Bras, now the day is here.
The shepherdess we'll visit.
Shepherd, shepherd hark that calling!
Angels they are and the day is dawning.
O, is this the Alcade's daughter,
Or some lady come from far?
She is daughter of God the Father,
And she shines like a star.
Shepherd, shepherd, hark that calling!
Angels they are and the day is dawning.

Let mine eyes see thee, sweet Jesus of Nazareth,
Let mine eyes see thee, and then see death.
Let them see that can, Roses and Jessamine,
Seeing thy face most fair, all blossom are therein.
Flower of seraphin, sweet Jesus of Nazareth.
Let mine eyes see thee, and then see death.
Nothing I require, where my Jesus is;
Anguish all desire, saving only this;
All my help is his, He only succoureth.
Let mine eyes see thee, and then see death.

Today a shepherd and our kin
O Gil, to ransom us is sent,
And he is God Omnipotent.
For us hath he cast down the pride
And prison walls of Satanas;
And he is of the kin of Bras,
Of Manga, also of Llorent.
O, is not God Omnipotent?

If he is God, how then is he
Come hither, and here crucified?
With his sin also died,
Enduring death, tho innocent.
Gil, how is God Omnipotent?

Why, I have seen him born, pardie,
And of a most sweet Shepherdess.
If he is God, how can ha be
With such poor folk as these content?
See'st not he is Omnipotent?

Give over idle parl'eyeing,
And let us serve Him, you and I,
And since he came on earth to die,
Let us die with him, too.
Llorent,
For he is God Omnipotent.