Jezebel

JEZEBEL. PART I. A LION’S mane, a leopard’s skin Across my dusty shoulders thrown ; A swart fierce face, with eyes where sin Lurks like a serpent by a stone. A man driven forth by lust to seek Rest from himself on Carmel’s peak. A prophet with wild hair behind, Streaming in fiery clusters ! Yea, Tangled with vehemence of the wind, And knotted with the tears that slay ; And all my face parched up and dried, And all my body crucified. Ofttimes the Spirit of the Lord Descends and floods me with his breath ; My words are fashioned as a sword, My voice is like the voice of death. The thunder of the Spirit’s wings Brings terror to the hearts of kings. Anon, and I am driven out In desert places by desire ; My mouth is salt and dry ; I doubt If hell hath such another fire ; If God’s damnation can devise A lust to match these agonies. The desert wind my body burns, The voice of flesh consumes my soul ;