"I'm sorry that I ever doubted you
would be the only one to care for me. 50
I thought for but a moment—maybe hop'd—
that someone else could love a foolish whore,
but I was wrong and now I wallow here,
just like the little girl first you met
who hid here when her parents fought at home."
The Chaplain holds his tongue upon this first
of thoughts that comes to mind, for doth he know
she's speaking of our Preacher, though she won't
deliver him such words so traitorous.
Instead he nods his head and says to her: 60
"I know, my daughter dear, this cruel Earth
would never give a prostitute repose.
And truly thou'rt unlov'd by all but me,
as none can see thee truly as thou art,
except myself who's known thee longer time
than any who're still living to this day,
and lov'd thee for a time identical."
He changes here the subject, testing her.
"But tell me, dear, these days hast thou been here,
refusing t'even speak to me—of all 70
the people in this city—what hast thou
experienc'd up here within this room
I've sav'd for thee since ere thy womanhood?
Thou must have heard the waters rushing round
the church that fill'd the streets and flooded all.
And possibly there's something else which thou
wouldst like to ask about, if there's at all."
The Doll sits up and hugs her knees to chest
as much she can, so swollen with her babe;
she stares with pensive eyes upon her thumbs 80
now hook'd together, biting bottom lip.
The Chaplain places hands upon his lap
to hide a certain something rising up
upon the sight of th'woman's thighs expos'd
behind her shins beneath her risen skirt.
"I had a dream. . ." she says, which breaks his gaze
and reverie to focus once again.
"I had a dream the Preacher spoke to me,
or rather he address'd a larger crowd
so loud his booming voice did almost wake 90
me from my slumber; yet I know I slept,
for he is dead, I'm totally aware."
The Chaplain furrows brow and says to this:
YOU ARE READING
As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War
PoetryA troubled Pilgrim sets upon a road in search by sun and storm of paradise; a vain Pariah's banish'd from his home to render justice by the moonlit night: two individuals who share a flesh, each unalike in methods and beliefs, yet fated consequence...
8- ❂❂❂ -I
Start from the beginning
