Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE GHOST OF ABEL; A RELATION IN THE VISIONS OF JEHOVAH, by WILLIAM BLAKE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: What doest thou here, elijah? Last Line: Mercy seat: each in his station fixt in the firmament by peace brotherhood and love. Subject(s): Abel; Bible; Mythology | ||||||||
To LORD BYRON in the Wilderness What doest thou here Elijah? Can a Poet doubt the Visions of Jehovah? Nature has no Outline: but Imagination has. Nature has no Tune: but Imagination has! Nature has no Supernatural & dissolves: Imagination is Eternity Scene. A rocky Country. Eve fainted over the dead body of Abel which lays near a Grave. Adam kneels by her Jehovah stands above Jehovah -- Adam! Adam -- I will not hear thee more thou Spiritual Voice Is this Death? Jehovah -- Adam! Adam -- It is in vain: I will not hear thee Henceforth! Is this thy Promise that the Womans Seed Should bruise the Serpents head: Is this the Serpent? Ah! Seven times, O Eve thou hast fainted over the Dead Ah! Ah! Eve revives Eve -- Is this the Promise of Jehovah! O it is all a vain delusion This Death & this Life & this Jehovah! Jehovah -- Woman! lift thine eyes A Voice is heard coming on Voice -- O Earth cover not thou my Blood! cover not thou my Blood Enter the Ghost of Abel Eve -- Thou Visionary Phantasm thou art not the real Abel. Abel- Among the Elohim a Human Victim I wander I am their House Prince of the Air & our dimensions compass Zenith & Nadir Vain is thy Covenant O Jehovah I am the Accuser & Avenger Of Blood O Earth Cover not thou the Blood of Abel Jehovah -- What Vengeance dost thou require Abel -- Life for Life! Life for Life! Jehovah -- He who shall take Cains life must also Die O Abel And who is he? Adam wilt thou, or Eve thou do this Adam -- It is all a Vain delusion of the all creative Imagination Eve come away & let us not believe these vain delusions Abel is dead & Cain slew him! We shall also Die a Death And then! what then? be as poor Abel a Thought: or as This! O what shall I call thee Form Divine! Father of Mercies That appearest to my Spiritual Vision: Eve seest thou also. Eve -- I see him plainly with my Minds Eye. I see also Abel living: Tho terribly afflicted as We also are. yet Jehovah sees him Alive & not Dead: were it not better to believe Vision With all our might & strength tho we are fallen & lost Adam -- Eve thou hast spoken truly. let us kneel before his feet. They Kneel before Jehovah Abel -- Are these the Sacrifices of Eternity O Jehovah, a Broken Spirit And a Contrite Heart. O I cannot Forgive! the Accuser hath Enterd into Me as into his House & I loathe thy Tabernacles As thou hast said so is it come to pass: My desire is unto Cain And He doth rule over Me: therefore My Soul in fumes of Blood Cries for Vengeance: Sacrifice on Sacrifice Blood on Blood Jehovah -- Lo I have given you a Lamb for an Atonement instead Of the Transgressor, or no Flesh or Spirit could ever Live Abel -- Compelled I cry O Earth cover not the Blood of Abel Abel sinks down into the Grave. from which arises Satan Armed in glittering scales with a Crown & a Spear Satan -- I will have Human Blood & not the blood of Bulls or Goats And no Atonement O Jehovah the Elohim live on Sacrifice Of Men: hence I am God of Men: Thou Human O Jehovah. By the Rock & Oak of the Druid creeping Mistletoe & Thorn Cains City built with Human Blood, not Blood of Bulls & Goats Thou shalt Thyself be Sacrificed to Me thy God on Calvary Jehovah -- Such is My Will. Thunders that Thou Thyself go to Eternal Death In Self Annihilation even till Satan Self-subdud Put off Satan Into the Bottomless Abyss whose torment arises for ever & ever. On each side a Chorus of Angels entering Sing the following The Elohim of the Heathen Swore Vengeance for Sin! Then Thou stoodst Forth O Elohim Jehovah! in the midst of the darkness of the Oath! All Clothed In Thy Covenant of the Forgiveness of Sins: Death O Holy! Is this Brotherhood The Elohim saw their Oath Eternal Fire; they rolled apart trembling over The Mercy Seat: each in his station fixt in the Firmament by Peace Brotherhood and Love. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEDTIME READING FOR THE UNBORN CHILD by KHALED MATTAWA EAST OF CARTHAGE: AN IDYLL by KHALED MATTAWA SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 7 by CONRAD AIKEN VICARIOUS ATONEMENT by RICHARD ALDINGTON NOTHING ABOUT THE MOMENT by LUCILLE CLIFTON VENUS IN A GARDEN by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON AN OFFERING FOR TARA by GARY SNYDER A CRADLE SONG by WILLIAM BLAKE |
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