loves of the prophets, ch. 3

For the word: let the strangers fail. One by one they shall be driven
away, but for them and, covertly, for us, they shall be as women who are

among us, as our own people remain--& none shall rest of judgment. As
rottenness: from a high tower, we will observe the forest burning.

The lord comes, cruel fire; by a noise in the trees he announces: heads
staked up on the posts of the multitudes. One by one, with a word against

us: the earth, & one, & the heat of the waters of the city. So we become
as a besieged city of visitation, & as snow--though they shall come

into the lord's house in time. Evil & the worms cover the visitation, &
the sea, & they shall burn; men shall set to one side their wine &, rising,

take one another to meet, saying: Afterward, in the midst of eyes
there will be feet, even a scab on the mouth of my people. Even this.