This was the gods' god, br The leashed divinity, br Divine divining rod br And Me within the me. br br By mindlight tower and tree br Its shadow on the ground br Throw, and in darkness she br Whose weapon is her wound br br Fends off the knife, the sword, br The Tiger and the Snake; br It stalks the virgin's bed br And bites her wide awake. br br Her Bab-el-Mandeb waits br Her Red Sea gate of tears: br The blood-sponge god dilates, br His rigid pomp appears; br br Sets in the toothless mouth br A tongue of prophecy. br It speaks in naked Truth br Indifference for me br br Love, a romantic slime br That lubricates his way br Against the stream of Time. br And though I win the day br br His garrisons deep down br Ignore my victory, br Abandon this doomed town, br Crawl through a sewer and flee. br br A certain triumph, of course, br Bribes me with brief joy: br Stiffly my Wooden Horse br Receive into your Troy.