On Himself

Freed and chained, accompanied and alone,

screaming, quiet, I confuse the fierce crowd:

mad to the mortal eye of the lowly world,

wise to the divine Intellect of the celestial pole.

With wings clipped on earth, I fly to heaven

in sad flesh but of rejoicing soul;

and, if sometimes the heavy weight pulls me down,

my wings, though, lift me above the hard ground.

Dubious war makes virtues manifest.

Every other time is short compared to eternity,

and nothing is lighter than a welcome weight.

I wear the image of my love on my forehead,

assured of arriving blessed, on time,

where I may always be understood without speaking.

~Tommaso Campanella