jadis

C. S. Lewis writes
of Charn: a dead world, undead; decimated, bones
made holy with time and wind and fire still shut-up with ringing
in rote habits of circulation, blood-currents preserved
in false sleep for ill intent; these bones are not dead: they shriek
in dog-whistle frequencies, in treble presence of spirit
audible only to those whose living ears lay bare of any other noise
until the stirring
of vengeful queenly presence summoned
at the sounding of a bell
at the will
of a boy.

If rape is to be contained by symbolism, it is this:
the sex act, as allegory to the infilling of the Holy Spirit, turned infidel,
brutalized aloft, to the cross, and defected by God himself; it is suckling intent
laid to rest in womb-as-sarcophagus;
it is the full rage of God or gods behind each brittle consonant
of the word blasphemy against my teeth and lips.
It is Jadis's Deplorable Word,
casting a city to slow ruin
in defense against its conquest.
It is the heart-rhythm which continues unbidden after death,
the nerves electrified
by void habit evermore:

this death is not dead. 
this death cannot be made dead. 

this death is not dead. 
this death cannot be made dead. 

this death is not dead. 
this death cannot be made dead. 

as Jadis, forbidden apples will render a bloodstream electric evermore,
but in death-as-life promises of immortality
refracted against skin turned snow-white by horror;
yet beneath, a full, sacred rhythm belies such undeath:

shall these dead bones yet live again. 
shall these dead bones yet live again. 
shall these dead bones yet live again.