Heat of the Sun

from Connaissance de I'Est

The day is harsher than the hellish regions.

Outside, a sun strikes you down and a blinding

splendor, so steady that it seems solid, devours every

shadow. I perceive in what surrounds me less immo-

bility than stupor, the arrest in the blow. For the

Earth in her four moons has achieved her generation;

it is time for the Bridegroom to kill her, and, uncov-

ering the fires which consume him, to condemn her

with a fatal kiss.

What can I say for myself? If these flames are

terrifying to my weakness, if my eyes turn away, if

my body perspires, if I bend on the triple joints of my

legs, I shall be accusing inert matter, but the mind of

a man emerges from himself in heroic ecstasy! I feel

it! My soul hesitates, but only something supreme can

satisfy this enticing and horrible jealousy. Let others

flee underground and carefully obstruct the cleft in

their dwelling. But a noble heart, caught on the hard

point of love, embraces fire and torture. Sun, redouble

your flames, Burning is not enough, consume. My

grief would be not to suffer enough. Let nothing im-

pure be taken out of the furnace and nothing blind

from the agony of light!