As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

3- ☼

Our Pilgrim follows, hand-in-hand with Spouse,

the sisterhood who lead the two toward

the convent, which they've offer'd for the night

in order that they're rested for the pass

through mountains' range the two will next traverse,

and also do they offer them supplies

so that they are prepar'd to journey forth

for th'weeks that it will take for them t'emerge

at th'other side—perhaps a longer time

than this, for none have travell'd through it end-                   10

to-end, not even merchants who import

the goods from far-away societies

by chain of trade along the route of towns

that settle in the Spine surrounded by

the mountains on their ev'ry single side

and thus provide the merchants with the gems

and precious metals for the jewell'ry

that sees their wealth ascend whilst others fall

and th'wood for architecture and the pyres

this city can afford whilst other towns                         20

within the desert make their buildings out

of clay they find by digging in the earth

and by recycling th'wood already they

possess from times in past before the sands.

Ascending winding streets toward the base

they enter once again and then are led

toward the very chamber wherein Spouse

did spend the prior night in loneliness

whilst our Pariah did the bidding of

the Owner, though he didn't know her ploy.                             30

Within this room the two of them are told

refreshments will arrive to satisfy

their peckish stomachs; then the sister leaves

and shuts the door behind for privacy,

which they decide together tacitly

they'll use t'embrace the other's flesh and soul

to consummate with carnal am'rousness

the ardent love that grac'd each other's ears

from mouths which often can not shape the words

for fear the other they adore will not                       40

return their heart in same condition they

first offer'd it when they confess'd to them.

Perhaps, however, something changes when

the threat of danger looming over one

thou love is imminent before thy sight;

how inhibitions seem to shed away

as—running for the pyre—thou shouldst leap