Heart's Release

(After Buddhist and Vedic texts)

Love the firstborn, loftier than gods,
Than woman and man, Father
And Mother, You, firstborn, eldest of all,
We pay You homage

Of greater degree than we can know,
Greater than the stretch and pull
Of the night sky, You, Love, eldest
Of all, we pay You homage.

Greater than all things, moving
And still, than the Ocean, Passion,
Eldest of all
Whatever

Grounds there are for good works
In this world, all of them
Are not worth one-eighth of that love
Which is the heart's release.

You, Love, eldest, send elsewhere
All malice, Love alone,
Which is the heart's release, shines
And burns and streams forth,

Surpassing all grounds of our earthly
Intents: Love the Rescuer,
Love the Saviour, almighty,
Whom we forever love, Love,

Powerful, invoked
By all, bounteous,
Shine, burn, eldest one, stream forth,
Bless us, release us, grant us Yourself.

for the marriage of Henry Cabaniss and Christine Pleasant, June 23, 1990