THE DEATH OF CAIN

THE DEATH OF CAIN

THE DEATH OF CAIN

Because he had a mouth on him like sulphur;
because he gave me no respect;
because I was ever brother and no other;
because he smiled even as he slept
(or so she said); because my heart
carries a weight of hatred that will never
lift nor leave me even when I’m dead.

Although in all the world I stand apart
and live within the shadow of my name,
God’s curse on my head and on my head
the curses of my mother and my father,
although I lie here at your feet
speaking through blood and bile, I don’t regret it;
each night I dream of even blacker fame,
then bad luck wakes me and I rise to greet it.

Lamech, I’m close enough to smell your sin.
I’ll see you in hell where all the unforgiven,
the unforgiving, are sworn to come together
bare-headed under a murderous sun
or naked in never-ending winter weather.