Triptych

He it is, the innermost one, who awakens my being 
with his deep hidden touches.

He it is who puts his enchantment upon these eyes 
and joyfully plays on the chords of my heart 
in varied cadence of pleasure and pain.

He it is who weaves the web of this maya 
in evanescent hues of gold and silver, blue and green, 
and lets peep out through the folds his feet, 
at whose touch I forget myself.

Days come and ages pass, 
and it is ever he who moves my heart 
in many a name, in many a guise, 
in many a rapture of joy and of sorrow.

The day is no more, 
the shadow is upon the earth. 
It is time that I go to the stream 
to fill my pitcher.

The evening air is eager 
with the sad music of the water. 
Ah, it calls me out into the dusk. 
In the lonely lane there is no passer-by, 
the wind is up, 
the ripples are rampant in the river.

I know not if I shall come back home. 
I know not whom I shall chance to meet. 
There at the fording in the little boat 
the unknown man plays upon his lute.

Light, my light, the world-filling light,
the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!

Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life;
the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love;
the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.
Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling,
and it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling,
and gladness without measure. 
The heaven's river has drowned its banks 
and the flood of joy is abroad.