My Love Stands Behind a Wall: A Translation of the Song of Songs and Other Poems

By Netanel Miles-Yepez

The Song of Songs (Shir HaShirm) is among the most beloved books of the Hebrew Bible, beloved both for the beauty of its language and for the mystical ideas it has inspired. However, many new readers may be surprised to learn that—while it is often understood as an allegory for the relationship between God (the Bridegroom) and humanity (the Bride)—it has no explicit religious content whatsoever and actually seems to celebrate erotic love. In this new translation, Netanel Miles-Yépez, attempts to emphasize the “earthy immediacy” of the original Hebrew, wishing the Song of Songs to stand on its own as “love poetry,” arguing that the mystical poetry and insights about Divine Love it has inspired actually come from an engagement with the raw imagery of human love.
Also included are translations of the mystical poetry of Juan de la Cruz, Elazar Azikri, and Shlomo Halevi Alakabetz from the Spanish and Hebrew.

“Netanel Miles-Yépez’ translations soar with the erotic ecstasy of holy desire, reminding us that knowing God isn’t only a matter of emptying out, but also a matter of merging with. His Song sings, and invites you to sing along.”
—Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of Embracing the Divine Feminine: Song of Songs Annotated and Explained

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albion-Andalus Books
• Release date: Aug 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311322180

Netanel Miles-Yepez

Netanel Miles-Yépez is an artist and religious scholar. Born into a Mexican-American family, he discovered in his late teens his family’s hidden Jewish roots and began a serious exploration of Judaism and other religions. He has taught in the Department of Religious Studies at Naropa University.

Book preview

my love stands

behind a wall

a translation of

the song of songs

and other poems

by

netanel miles-yépez

Published by Albion-Andalus Books at Smashwords

Boulder, Colorado 2015

"The old shall be renewed,

and the new shall be made holy."

Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Kook

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, except for brief passages in connection with a critical review, without permission in writing from the publisher:

Albion-Andalus, Inc.

P. O. Box 19852

Boulder, CO 80308

www.albionandalus.com

Design and composition by Albion-Andalus, Inc.

Cover design by Sari Wisenthal-Shore.

Cover image of the painting, My Sister, My Bride by Netanel Miles-Yépez. Henna design by Moriah Ferrús.

Ink painting in the text by Netanel Miles-Yépez.

Translator’s photo by Hilary Benas, 2015.

ISBN: 9781311322180

for my love

behind a wall

many waters

cannot quench love

nor can floods drown it

for love is as strong as death

passion as cruel as the grave

its flashes are flashes of fire

the very flame of god

contents

acknowledgments

introduction

the song of songs

of solomon

your love is better than wine

rise my love my beauty and come away

on my bed at night i sought him

behold you are lovely

i sleep but my heart is awake

where has your beloved gone

come back come back

set me as a seal on your heart

poems of mystical love

inspired by the song of songs

the dark night by juan de la cruz

the spiritual canticle by juan de la cruz

beloved of my soul by elazar azikri

come my