Oh, how to report to truth <br />the many shades of love? <br /> <br />Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, <br />monk of a silent order <br />writing what he could not speak, <br />writes of love for brother monks <br />without embarrassment; <br />expatiates upon the Song of Songs, <br />erotic metaphor, with passionate, pure heart; <br /> <br />finds so many Latin terms <br />for all the shades of love, <br />of which we can translate to English speech <br />but a modest few – love, delight, affection, charity, <br />true friendliness; the glowing heart… <br /> <br />Then, pen laid down, the saint <br />returns to narrow cell – and love: <br />in silence, stillness, solitude, <br />pursues translation's lifelong art, <br />but now beyond all words; <br />holy love into the human heart. <br /> <br />Oh, how to report to truth <br />the many shades of love..<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/translating-love/
