Relationship between poetry and prose by Saint John of the Cross
This article deals with one of the most important questions concerning the works of the Spanish poet and mystic Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), that is the connection between his poetry and prose. As a rule this connection is studied through comparison of such antinomic concepts as mystical experience and theological reflection, lyric and dogma, feeling and intelligence, etc. Researchers generally focus their attention on either the poetic or doctrinal component of the works of St. John of the Cross, or they study the relationship between these two components in a variety of contexts. While the first approach could be called “analytic “ and the second - “synthetic”, the focus of the author of the present article seeks an “organic” connection between the ascetical life and the poetical works of the Spanish mystic. The author examines two aspects. First the impact of asceticism on poetics is studied. It is shown that a lyrical poem can be read as a guide for those who seek to achieve spiritual perfection: the poem, both in terms of content and form, meets the ascetical requirements of resignation, mortification, devotion and solitude. The author then turns to prosaic interpretation by John of the Cross of his own works, through which his poetry acquires a new perspective. The first aspect reveals the similarity between asceticism and poetry, and in the second case poetry approaches theology.