1:147-148 A KING IN HALF-SLEEP I wake from sleep within…
““1:147-148 A KING IN HALF-SLEEP I wake from sleep within you. I turn and hold you in my arms, as a king in half-sleep thinks himself alone, then feels his bride next to him in bed, smells her hair, and remembers he has a companion. Slowly waking more, he begins to talk. So I wake inside you, the pleasure, the soft-saying, the elegance of the hours we walk in wonder. I draw closer. When my servants ask of me, tell them I am near (2:186). Then I remember Moses fainting in the presence, Jesus' face, the mysteries that the saints unfold, Muhammad's sure stance, lovers mixing together in their songs, and I know that I have been given these feet to walk the amazement you gave them.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage reflects a mystical union where the speaker feels a deep, intimate connection with the divine and beloved, blending spiritual reverence with earthly love.
In simple terms: A lover feels both spiritual and earthly closeness.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both spiritual and sensual love.
Themes
spirituality
love
union
divine
intimacy
Mood
reverent
intimate
Type
poetic
spiritual
religious
When to use this quote
- prayer
- marriage
- artistic inspiration
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
mysticism
interfaith rever
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance sacred reverence with earthly affection?
- What does “king in half‑sleep” symbolize for you?
A Different Perspective
May conflate spiritual and physical love, risking misinterpretation.