Before I Knocked

　Before I knocked and flesh let enter，

　　With liquid hands tapped on the womb，

　　I who was as shapeless as the water

　　That shaped the Jordan near my home

　　Was brother to Mnetha's daughter

　　And sister to the fathering worm.

　　I who was deaf to spring and summer，

　　Who knew not sun nor moon by name，

　　Felt thud beneath my flesh's armour¹，

　　As yet was in a molten form

　　The leaden stars， the rainy hammer

　　Swung by my father from his dome².

　　I knew the message of the winter，

　　The darted³ hail， the childish snow，

　　And the wind was my sister suitor；

　　Wind in me leaped， the hellborn dew；

　　My veins⁵ flowed with the Eastern weather；

　　Ungotten I knew night and day.

　　As yet ungotten， I did suffer；

　　The rack of dreams my lily bones

　　Did twist into a living cipher⁶，

　　And flesh was snipped⁷ to cross the lines

　　Of gallow crosses on the liver

　　And brambles in the wringing⁸ brains.

　　My throat knew thirst before the structure

　　Of skin and vein⁴ around the well

　　Where words and water make a mixture

　　Unfailing till the blood runs foul⁹；

　　My heart knew love， my belly¹⁰ hunger；

　　I smelt¹¹ the maggot in my stool.

　　And time cast forth¹² my mortal creature

　　To drift or drown upon the seas

　　Acquainted with the salt adventure

　　Of tides that never touch the shores.

　　I who was rich was made the richer

　　By sipping¹³ at the vine of days.

　　I， born of flesh and ghost， was neither

　　A ghost nor man， but mortal ghost.

　　And I was struck down by death's feather.

　　I was a mortal to the last

　　Long breath that carried to my father

　　The message of his dying christ.

　　You who bow down at cross and altar，

　　Remember me and pity Him

　　Who took my flesh and bone for armour

　　And doublecrossed my mother's womb.