Born Twice in Blood

I gave you a daughter To have and to hold I gave you her gently More precious than gold I stitched her together And formed her with care Created her lovely Then born to me bare Was bare as a baby I held her to me Then she upturned her gaze Looked sweetly at me You gave me no child But something unfinished Deformed and ugly So twisted and blemished Creature of sorrow I’d spare you the image All blackened and shadowed Reflecting your visage You moulded it thus Concocted its nature Then expected me To cherish and nurture? Despicable steward! You hurt my daughter Distorted her image And raised her for slaughter. Despising my glory Dismissing her worth Her face my reflection, The salt of the earth Revise your destruction Bring her to water Where her soul pants for me Drink up, my daughter. Returned to me, my child Now forever mine Born again in my blood Sweet fountains of wine.