Dark Night of the Soul - A Poem

By St. John of the Cross

Saint-John-of-the-Cross.jpg


Desire its possession in nothing.


To come to the knowledge of all

Desire the knowledge of nothing.


To come to possess all

Desire the possession of nothing.


To arrive at being all

Desire to be nothing.


To come to the pleasure you have not

You must go by a way which you enjoy not


To come to the knowledge you have not

You must go by a way in which you know not


To come to the possession you have not

You must go by a way in which you possess not.


To come to be what you are not

You must go by a way in which you are not.

Emily Turner