In

the

midst

of

this

erotic

exchange,

God

acknowledges

the

reality

of

pain

in

their

intimate

union:

No

matter

how

softly

I

caress

you,

I

inflict

immense

pain

on

your

poor

body.

If

I

were

to

surrender

myself

to

you

continuously,

as

you

desire,

I

would

lose

my

delightful

dwelling

place

on

earth

within

you,

For

a

thousand

bodies

cannot

fully

satisfy

the

longings

of

a

soul

in

love

(FL

11.25).