Come, love, let us dwell together

 
Love stands today beside your door!
Welcome it if you will,
or bolt the door without a care!
Know this: love owes no debt to anyone;
Know this: love knows exactly which house is home;
Know this: love still finds love in the end!


If you hurl it far away,
if you bloody its gentle throat,
if you trample even one of its flowers in the dust,
if you shatter its heart with momentary deceit,
know this: no one belongs to anyone forever!


Those you judge by whim and fancy,
those you hold in scorn, in careless neglect,
those you bind in shrouds of thick hatred,
know this: they too will find their rightful home,
will find some tender companions of their own!
Their own tumult, their own tears of joy—everyone receives,
everyone gets their due share at some moment or other.


Love—it has come today! Either welcome it,
or cast it away!
The one you've thrown today to the bend in the road, to that lonely dark corner,
know this: everything works out right, nothing stays still!
Nature gives abundantly to all,
whether you want it or not.


What comes with tenderness, accept it,
whether sorrow or tears, know this: everything moves in eternal opposition,
gain or loss, defeat or victory comes to all,
some receive early, some late—but the gift is the same!
Know this: all happiness finds its way home.


The day pain questioned pain itself,
give me more burning, more and more...
happiness came that very day and said, so much sorrow...where do you find it all?
What will become of me if you choose only grief?
Who will call me home then?


Pain said, come then, let us merge as one today!
If happiness came, then where did pain go?
Happiness said, I'll hide in this crumbling wall.
Sorrow laughed and said, then I'll bring only tears.
When joy and sorrow each come alone,
who can bear whom...who throws whom away?


One day you scorned that love,
so see today how love pushes and shoves!
If you once floated in sorrow's ocean,
then why do you search for sorrow alone?


In this nest of mine I keep joy and sorrow intertwined,
come love, you and I...let us dwell together.