Love's Arrow

Here is another truth that we often forget. We have all seen the image of the chubby cherub with the bow and arrow. Its "cute" but trite, and its truth lies elsewhere. In this poem we hear the harsh, difficult truth about Love's Arrow. Often our response to this truth is to put up defenses and shields, but Love has another purpose in the arrow that flies from its bow.

Let you soul be the target of love's arrow
flying from the bow of the Beloved's hand.
Let it pass through your soul, let it pass.
Don't bother to shield yourself from love's weapon--
Its pathway between the two worlds is hidden even from itself,
but its wound is known by a broken-openness.
--'Attar