Charmed to her soulless sway,

For she had the face of the Magdalene,

And the heart of Aholiba.

Wine and kisses and gusty words,

Kisses and wine again,

And her lips and brow were red with stains

From the hairy mouths of men,

Red as the stain on the brow of Cain

That burned with his Maker's hate,

Or the lips of the witch that Adam loved

Ere God revealed his mate.

[54]

Trumpets and lights and the players

Swung from the stage, and then

The curtain fell on the drama

Of a woman and some men;

While cleaving the dome of the temple

Fell the Avenger's rod,

And lo! when I looked again I saw

We were face to face with God.

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