Upon arriving home our Pilgrim asks
his Spouse to wake him later, for his lids
are rather heavy from the day's events,
to which she acquiesces, but reminds:
"Attempt to not appear too tucker'd out
when Preacher comes to sup, for do recall
that we invited him to dine with us
this final time before he leaves the town
to preach within the polis to the north
of here, upon the western face of cliffs 10
that split our island town from th'other ones."
He nods to this and up the stairs he goes
to crawl into his bed and doze away,
aware that he will not require her
to wake him up; his counterpart will rise
out from the bed instead of him, but that's
alright with him, for he hath grown to trust
his shadow with the seven months they've shar'd
their paradise and work'd t'achieve their goals,
and certainly his counterpart will be 20
the better of the two at say'ng farewell.
Pariah in this place remains to rest,
conserving th'energy their body hath
for him to keep control til its collapse,
for sev'ral hours ere he rises up
and readies for the guest they both will host
by stepping into th'room just next of bed's
where at the hanging mirror doth he wash
his visage of the sleep around his eye
with water from a basin that they keep 30
upon a pedestal below the mirr'r.
He turns and now considers drawing bath
from th'well outside to fill the metal tub
that's next to him by th'use of pulley ropes
he rigg'd outside the window of this room
with buckets so they'd never have to leave
the comfort of th'indoors to draw a bath.
But he decides he dothn't want to take
the time to warm the water in the tub
by setting flame to logs beneath its tin, 40
(as flooring round the tub is that of stone)
instead deciding face and hands enough
to wash, despite the grime he built before
whilst counterpart did sweat beneath his garb.
He ambles down the stairs and kisses Spouse,
who's boiling peppers, beef and onions slic'd
with lentils, fava beans and garlic cloves
for stew, which emanates a fragrance rich
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...
