Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CONSENTMENT, by CATULLE MENDES


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CONSENTMENT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Now ahod on the plain kept countless sheep
Last Line: She took her woollen robe and forth she went.
Subject(s): Dreams; God; Sheep; Nightmares


NOW Ahod on the plain kept countless sheep.
His spouse one summer day fell deep asleep
Under a tree nigh Bethel. While she lay
A vision passed before her, in this way:

Herseemed she from a dream was newly woke,
And Ahod was before her and thus spoke:
"Woman, arise and gird thee. Of my herd
Last year I sold an hundred sheep. One third
Is still unpaid of the full sum agreed.
But I am old and spent; and in my need
Whom may I trust? Get thee to Segor, bride,
And claim the thirty shekels still denied."

She murmured not of desert, thieves, or dread.
"Thy servant hears thy bidding, Lord," she said.
And when with lifted hand he pointed north,
She took her woollen raiment and went forth.

Now stony were the ways and ill to tread.
With tears that blinded and with feet that bled,
She fared till darkness fell, and on through night
Without or human sound or human sight,
Till on a sudden from the shadow smote
A savage scimitar across her throat,
And savage hands snatched off her robe of wool,
And left her dying in a bloody pool.

Thereon, in mortal terror, she awoke
And found her Lord beside her, who thus spoke:
"Woman, arise and gird thee. Of my herd
Last year I sold an hundred sheep. One third
Is still unpaid of the full sum agreed.
But I am old and spent; and in my need
Whom may I trust? Get thee to Segor, bride,
And claim the thirty shekels still denied."

She answered, "Thou hast spoken, Lord. I haste."
She called her brood about her. Then she placed
Her hands upon her first-born, and she bent
To kiss her Benjamin. And all intent
She took her woollen robe and forth she went.





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