TEAR AWAY YOUR MILLSTONES

 

 

If your eyes are clouded with foul obscurity
and fireflies nest within their sockets;
if in your eyes evil gleams,
murderer of goodness and beauty;
if your eyes pretend to know the truth
yet do not gaze directly at the stars,
tear them away!,
for you shall behold the light of eternity
beyond the many-layered veil of earth.

 

If your hands, at the touch of lilies,
caress the scales of serpents;
if in your hands the paten is defiled
by fingers barren of laurels;
if your hands conceal the chain
and do not offer their bread to the weakest,
tear them away!,
for the stump, in its secret condemnation,
will echo the beating of your temples.

 

If your feet do not walk the path
that leads to your Father's house;
if the pilgrim finds no support in your steps
when sensing the nearness of the final hour;
if your feet do not know the destiny
that awaits at the fall of evening,
tear them away!,
for, embracing the trunk of the thorn bush,
you shall attain immortal fruits.