In the passionate poetry of a bride to her bridegroom, thirteenth-century German mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg recorded thirty years of her most intimate conversations with God. The selections in this edition offer a glimpse into Mechthild's vision of God and her constant longing to be in his heart. Through Mechthild's rich imagery, the reader finds an exposed soul consumed by the perfect love of God. Her spiritual passion penetrates both her divine ecstasies and the trials of her temporal life. An exceptional writer, Mechthild recounts her mystical union with God in an unusual combination of literary genres ranging from a rich, allegorical style to poetic verse incorporating the luminous imagery of the Song of Songs.