Yet I Remain Faithful

Filthy and foul I found you, 
garnished in grime, 
drenched in dust,
polluted in your own putrid blood,
orphaned, alone, helpless.
Pity overtook me to love, 
to cleanse you of your stench, 
to let you live.

As you came of age,
I made a wedding promise 
to provide, protect, 
and never forsake you.
I bathed you in benevolence, 
coddled you with compassion.
I fed you feasts of fancy flour, oil, and honey.
I covered your nakedness 
with the finest fabrics of fur, linen, and silk.
Gold and gems galore, I graciously gifted upon you.
Through a lover's eyes, 
how alluring you were to look upon.
Passionately, we pleasured ourselves 
upon our sacred marriage bed.

Soon you fled to the wanting world, 
flaunting your youthful beauty 
in sleazy streets.
Jewels jostled and bangles bounced about 
your lovely body, loud with lust.
In haughtiness, you uncovered yourself 
of the costly garments I gave you 
and laid them at strangers' feet in whoredom.
The delicacies I fed you with 
were stolen to spoon feed your lovers. 
My gifts of gold were bestowed 
to beg strangers' favor.

My love, you plundered our partaking, 
aborting the fruit of our conception
to be free to roam, 
forsaking all our children to the fire. 
With wandering wanton eyes, 
you despised the one 
who knew you from youth, 
who loved you to life. 
Far and wide, you spread your treachery 
to strangers' selfish desires, 
to increase your queendom of whoredom.

My bride, you caused me to fret nightly, 
bawling upon our squandered marriage bed, 
flaming with jealous anger. 
Whorish wife, your heart withered weak, 
fleeing to every flutter. 
In infidelity, your desires remained insatiable 
and you lusted after greater lewdness. 
You continually conceived in evil 
to cast more blood from your fiercely consuming body. 
Ceaselessly, you sullied yourself as I bore the burden.

Have your worthless wooers as you please --- 
divide your heart and thrash mine. 
Play the harlot and inherit her price. 
Let them annihilate you 
to the judgment of an adulteress, 
casting stones and swinging with their swords. 
Let them burn your high dwellings, 
rip off your jewels, and leave you openly naked. 
Let them ravish you to nothing. 

Humble your heart 
to loath your lasciviousness 
and be dropped to dust. 
Remember your youth 
and be consumed with sorrow and shame. 
Then my anger will settle 
and I will again take pity. 

You tested me with zealous torment, 
tearing your promise in twain, 
but my covenant is true 
and my faithfulness remains. 
Turn fully from your filth 
and return to my lavish love 
so that you may live.

Inspiration: Ezekiel 16
A picture of Israel's idolatry and God's faithfulness

1/25/2020
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Macfarlane Avatar
February 5, 2020 at 11:56 AM
WOW.....a powerfully executed write. I felt like I was transported back in time and witnessed this sorid tale of betrayed love. Love it. Hugs
Ligon Avatar
February 6, 2020 at 2:22 PM
Thanks, Cecilia. Poetic hugs.
Agustin Avatar
January 29, 2020 at 3:31 AM
Thanks for poetically sharing this truth anchored upon the Scriptures. Likewise, thanks for my placement in your recently judged poetry contest. (Such is dedicated to my friend whose birthday was on such date that I posted the poem.) God bless you.
Ligon Avatar
January 30, 2020 at 10:36 AM
Thanks, Beata. God bless you.
One Avatar
January 28, 2020 at 2:41 AM
So glad it did!!!!
Ligon Avatar
January 28, 2020 at 9:16 PM
Me too. It will be fun to add videos.
One Avatar
January 27, 2020 at 4:35 PM
It is not the easiest thing at first. Best thing is to go to youtube, find the video you want. Go to share, then to embed, copy the code. then go to manage poems and select the poem you want and the enter the code in the enter video section.. hope that helps.
Ligon Avatar
January 28, 2020 at 12:06 AM
Thank you. It worked!
One Avatar
January 27, 2020 at 3:36 AM
You can still post it via youtube, if it is there. Then it would not infringe copyright.
Ligon Avatar
January 27, 2020 at 3:33 PM
Thanks, Silent One. I tried from my phone with the instructions given, but it didn't give the encryption code. Maybe it will work from a computer.
One Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 3:44 PM
Interesting inspiration.. one I do not know about.. but this is a well versed poem.
Ligon Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 10:36 PM
Thanks, Silent One. It's a provocative read. I wanted to post a song by Gungor called "Ezekiel," but it might be copyrighted and I haven't figured out how to add video yet.
Hamilton Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 11:46 AM
As I was reading this it quickly became apparent that it was a parallel write to the Biblical narrative. A valiant attempt to rephrase perfection, enjoyed the journey, now we wait for the harlots judgement, coming sooner than most imagine!
Ligon Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 10:29 PM
Thanks, John. I appreciate your comments. A fearful time that will be for many.
Adams Avatar
January 25, 2020 at 7:06 PM
wow...powerful verse... your words, your images just get the point across wonderfully... great write Juliet :) hugs
Ligon Avatar
January 26, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Thanks, Sandra. Poetic hugs.
Michael Avatar
January 25, 2020 at 2:02 PM
Infidelity flies like a dragon in this poem...I like how it was delivered...Well done
Ligon Avatar
January 25, 2020 at 3:56 PM
Thanks, Arturo.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace