As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

7- ☾☾ ☾☾

He rocks within his hammock's gentle sway

betwixt the poplars he declin'd to cut,

considering this vilest trick his Spouse

hath play'd on him, producing devil spawn

and as he swings remembers t'eve before

contracting fever in the mountain range—

a memory that isn't his yet still

can he envision as the light of day—

wherein his Spouse did flirt with Saunterer

who later did reveal devilish                10

intent to her, but clearly not before

she let him plant his seed inside her womb.

Our Pilgrim gazes at his blacken'd hand,

here recognizing Sky and Earth bestow'd

a greater punishment to him than this

without his even knowing til this day.

He puts his arm across his face and weeps

into his sleeve, asham'd by cuckoldry,

and as his vision's cover'd by his arm,

there's steps' approach so softly on the grass                20

and next he hears the Midwife say to him:

"I've seen this sort of thing be done before

and you can make it work if but thou try—"

"Thou'st seen a woman bear a monstrous beast

with fangs and evil eyes and deaden'd skin

who cries with rage? Is all this typical?

Another day midwifing for the poor?"

Our Pilgrim's throat doth close and choke his speech.

The Midwife nods at this, acknowledging

the rotten prank that fate hath pull'd on him,                30

yet still she stresses what she means to say:

"I shan't pretend to know what both of ye

experienc'd on journey'ng from the South,

but what's been clarified to me with how

the two of ye've behav'd since coming here

is there's a stronger bond that ties your hearts

than any couple I have help'd before.

Whatever did occur to bring this babe

t'exist instead of th'one you wanted t'raise

is in the past, and thou must make a choice                40

to keep on loving her and raise her son

as if he is thine own—with all the love

thou wouldst have given one who shar'd thy blood

in order that you raise him to a man

who may not share thy flesh, but will indeed

th'ideals you instill within his heart;

or else thine other choice is leave thy Spouse