The Banner of Love
15 July 2007 - 1 אב 5767 by Huw
I found this in my journal from January 2000…I can’t say as I wrote it, it’s coined poetry (not canned): coined from the prose words of someone else. In this case, I took a passage from St. Gregory of Nyssa’s Commentary on the Song of Solomon and Origen’s commentary on the same passage of text. The verses in question lead off the poem (quoted from the King James Bible). I noted in the journal that “I’m in the process of setting it to an Anglican Chant-style tune so that it can be sung by the folks at church.” That seems never to have happened.
I think I’ll take care of that soon.
The Banner of Love
© 2000 by Huw Richardson
I sat down under his shadow with great delight, *
and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the house of wine, *
and his banner over me was love.
His left hand is under my head, *
and his right hand embraces me.
My Lord says, Bring me into the house of wine
Why have I been standing outside for so long
Behold I stand at the door and knock
Only open the door, I will come in
I will eat with you and you with me
My Soul says, Bring me into the house of wine.
Spread over me the Banner of Love.
My thirst is so strong
and I am no longer satisfied
To my soul Christ says
Bring me in! Bring me in!
I will Bring your soul to the House of Wine
that your Soul may be filled
With my Wine of Joy
With my Wine, Holy Spirit
The whole content of the cup,
drained into her mouth,
is unable to quench her thirst
she wants to be taken to the cellar
to apply her mouth to the vats
overflowing with intoxicating wine
Lead in the Bridegroom, who calls your soul.
The Word, Wisdom, Truth enters your house
Bring him into your house of wine
You shall see the grapes squeezed into the vats
You shall see the vine that produces the grapes
You shall see the vinedresser of the true vine
who has cultivated these grapes
They enter the Cellar the House of Wine
Where the mystery of the wine is performed.
Once they enter, my Soul aspires still higher
Put me under the banner of your love
For Love, says John, is God.
For Love, says John, is God.
