Erotic Poetry

The Song of Solomon is ancient erotic poetry. It’s a remarkable piece of writing in so many ways - for example, it’s written from the perspective of a dark-skinned woman who has embraced her own beauty. We read this now in a world that has marginalized both women and people of color, so her ability to celebrate her innate goodness feels pretty amazing, right? At one point she writes, “I am black and beautiful” (Song of Solomon 1:5). What a gift to see yourself that way!

She also has this intense relationship of belovedness with her lover. Down through the ages, believers of all sorts have used this as an example of the kind of intimacy that can exist in a sort of mystical way with God. Some have experienced this uniting sort of intimacy with God and some have not - and the idea is not to shame ourselves if we have not.

But today, whether this kind of intimacy is standard in our relationship with God or not, we’re invited to join with believers through the millennia to do the deep work of soulful imagination, where we put ourselves in the place of this woman and imagine that kind of relationship with God, allowing it to re-form our thoughts about ourselves.

So read over these words today a few times, perhaps closing your eyes, and letting them sink in. How does this change how you see yourself?