“Did Jezebel cry when the prophets she’d slain

Amounted to her sin, to invisible disdain?

“As Lot ran from Sodom, did he wish to halt

At metamorphosis of belov’d wife to salt?

“When Judas betrayed the Son of Man with a kiss,

Did the traitor miss mercy, never seek heaven’s bliss?

“Can Lucifer repent of treason and evil

Or does blood of a Lamb not wash white the devil?”

In a garden stood a tree of chiaroscuro-truth.

Sweet words of a serpent spoke glory to youth.

Primordial man and his Rib bit the fruit.

From hell stems the rose of transgression’s black seed

Of murder, doubt, treason, and more soul-staining deeds;

So with hell in our hearts…vain questions are these.

Cry out, troubled soul, not in doubt, but for grace

To hands pierced by our vice, to a world-wearied face.

Did Emmanuel descend ‘fore the cross slew him slow?

No, by his death instead promised, “Seed-condemned, nevermore!”