Ekphrastic 9

Why is his chariot so long in coming?

She asks as she looks through the lattice

And I almost say to her, my peg perforated his pterion

I struck your son

I had a hammer

He laid in my lap

I gave him milk

Did he lay like that in your lap when you gave him milk?

I said to him,

Turn here, my lord; turn here to me; do not be afraid

I said to myself, Do not be afraid

Do not be afraid

He sought my sanctuary, and the Word my forefathers fed me whispered,

Thou shalt kill

Thou shalt kill

Thou shalt kill

And be blessed among the women in the tent

Be the means of vengeance, but not exempt from it, it seems

A catharsis, but a curse to you

And the spoil they will divide

A dyed embroidery, two embroideries, a girl, two girls, to each mighty man filled with the myelin now leaking onto my legs

He said to me, Give me please a little water to drink, for I am thirsty

And my own mouth went dry

Do not be afraid, do not be afraid, do not be afraid

I gave him milk

Did he lay like that in your lap when you gave him milk?

He laid in my lap

I had a hammer

I could have not struck your son

I could have not perforated his pterion with my peg

And she would not be looking through the lattice,

looking at me and asking,

Why is his chariot so long in coming?

The land rests

I will not