For Kassia: A Bold and Beautiful Woman, a Byzantine Poet
Oh Lord, my God, I fell asleep
No longer in a state of grace
No longer a beautiful woman
Beloved by the Emperor,
But a harlot, like Mary Magdalene,
A sister of the Christ
Dazzled by the myrrh,
By an acre of sorcery, by a terrible moon
By a time of the month
By everything too soon..
Give me your tears
Let me wash your feet,
Wash away your Golgotha fears
We all die Lord
The place of the skull lives
Within the waters of the sea
Tides rise in my heart for thee.,
Listen to the sighing of my heart,
Your bedroom is empty.
Let me so-destroy your thighs,
That no sin will arise.
I will hope and I will forgive
In the Paradise Of the Twilight,
I cry, I fear, hiding away, I am ashamed
I know not why.
I become one of the crowd
At the crimson gates of Constantinople
The abyss of the barbarians opens up before me
How do I make up my mind to live, my sanctified Saviour?
For I am not your servant, Sir, but I am your lover.