St. Therese’s poem, “GLOSE ON THE DIVINE, After St. John of the Cross”

Poems of St. Therese Of The Child Jesus: Known As The Little Flower Of Jesus. Translated By The Carmelites Of Santa Clara, Publisher: Burns Oates and Washbourne (1925)  

St. Therese’s poem, “GLOSE ON THE DIVINE After St. John of the Cross” posed some puzzlement. The English of ‘Poem of Little Flower Jesus’ brings little known vocabulary. – Glose of the Divine.

The Victorian style translation does not make the poem easy. This text is from London 1925 printing.

Further hurdle is the fact that available Online versions omit some of the poems, in particular the missing ‘Glose on the Divine, after St. John of the Cross’.
[Similarly missing the Glose on the Divine, in a French first edition 1907].

Here, St. Therese is in deeper experience with St. John of the Cross. A Link below helps the explanation.

 http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/glose.htm 

Hopefully there will be an updated translation, 2001. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poems-Therese-Lisieux-Alan-Bancroft/dp/0006279503/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1  

POEMS OF LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS

GLOSE ON THE DIVINE

After St. John of the Cross

Leaning without support, without light and in darkness,
I go to consume myself of love. " - St. John of the Cross.

To the world, with delight all-surpassing,
An eternal farewell I have said;

O'er itself wings my heart life-amassing,
From support save in God it hath fled!

And now in His light I am seeing
What is dearest where joys overbrim,

'Tis when heart, soul, and all of my heing
Lean, and know no support save in Him.

While I suffer in darkness unbroken,
Through this mortal delay of an hour,

I possess here at least one fair token,
The star of love's infinite power.

In the way, all of peril surroundeth,
But I follow, no fear can debar,

For by love, well I know life aboundeth
’Mid the shadows of exile afar.

His love as I learn every hour,
Can profit by good and by ill

That He findeth in me: O what power!
Transforming my soul at His Will.

This flame feedeth deep, nor returneth,
It pierceth my heart from above;

As with ardours of fire it burneth,
I go hence, consumed in my love.

1896.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  http://www.volecentral.co.uk/vf/glose.htm 

Glose (or Glosa)

The glose originated in Spain, where it is known as the glosa. It has two parts, which are normally written by different authors. 

The first part - the texte or cabeza - consists of a few lines which set the theme for the entire poem. Typically this will be a stanza from a well-known poem or poet - although it is perfectly permissible to write your own texte.

The second part - the glose or glosa proper - is a gloss on, or explanation of, the texte. It takes the form of an ode, with one stanza per line of the texte. Each stanza in turn expands upon its corresponding line of texte, and ends with a repetition of it. 

An example will make this clearer.

 

Another blow for press freedom

The painful warrior famoused for fight 

After a thousand victories once foiled 

Is from the book of honour razèd quite 

And all the rest forgot for which he toiled. 

A thug, about him something of the night, 

But our thug, who took up arms and stood firm, 

Brave, strong and tall for what he thought was right.  

A hero, though he’d blush to hear the term, 

The painful warrior famoused for fight.

- - - - -

Related forms

The rondeau redoublé will give you a distinct sense of déjà vu.

Back to Verse Forms home page. 

© Bob Newman 2004. All rights reserved.