the heat of midnight tears

Listen, my friend, this road is the heart opening,

kissing his feet, resistance broken, tears all night.

If we could reach the Lord through immersion in water,

I would have asked to be born a fish in this life.

If we could reach Him through nothing but berries and wild nuts

then surely the saints would have been monkeys when they came

from the womb!

If we could reach him by munching lettuce and dry leaves

then goats would surely get to the Holy One before us!

If the worship of stone stature could bring us all the way,

I would have adored a granite mountain years ago.

Mirabai says, "The heat of midnight tears will bring you to God."

~ Mirabai

translation by Robert Bly