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I AWAIT THE GUEST

My life fearfully awaits
The unwanted guest:
Death.

My mind reluctantly awaits
The unexpected guest:
Man.

My heart devotedly awaits
The ever-expected guest:
God.[31]

Because of the dramatic premiss of the seeker's invitation, this symbol lends itself to enacted dialogue between man and God:

YOUR AGELONG HUNGER

Lord, today You are
My most distinguished guest.
Alas, how can I offer You my food,
My ignorance-night?
"Son, I am terribly hungry;
Just give Me what you have.
My cosmic hunger cares not for taste;
It cares only for food.
Soon I shall invite you to be My guest.
I shall give you My food, Nectar-flood.
Like Me, you too must not care for taste,
But for the satisfaction
Of your agelong hunger. "[32]

In symbolic terms the poet amplifies the encounter between man and God as a meal that is shared by host and Guest. Since God has come into the seeker's "house," His meal must be made from the seeker's stores of ignorance. The seeker's offering of his own limited possession, "ignorance-night," is seen as a necessary prelude to his eventual share of God's feast of light. Knowing this, the seeker keeps open house for God: