Jezebel

8 JEZEBEL Her murders and her blasphemies, Her whoredoms, God has paid at last ; Upon my bosom close she lies ; Her carnal spirit holds me fast. My blood, my infamy, my pain, Seal my subjection and her reign. My veins poured out her marriage cup, For holy water her cruel tongue ; For blessing of white hands raised up, These perfumed infamies unsung ; For God’s breath, her sharp tainted breath ; For marriage bed, the bed of death. The hounds that scavenge, fierce and lean, Snarl in the moonlight ; in the sky The vulture hangs, a ghost unclean ; The lewd hyaena’s sleepless eye Darts through the distance ; these admit My lordship over her—and it. The host is lifted up. Behold The vintage spilt, the broken bread ! I feast upon the cruel cold Pale body that was ripe and red. Only, her head, her palms, her feet, I kissed all night, and did not eat. So, and not otherwise, the word Of God was utterly fulfilled. So, and not otherwise. I heard Her spirit cry, by death not stilled : “ My sin is perfect in thy blood, And thou and I have conquered God.” Now let me die, at last desired, At last beloved of thee my queen ; Now let me die, with blood attired, Thy servant naked and obscene ;