Esther, A Sonnet Sequence: X

An instant, just an instant, and no more, And it was gone, and I with eyes unsealed Saw the bald pageant stripped to its thought's core, And naked there to my scared eyes revealed. Upon a throne which filled the upper space Two female monsters sat, the first a girl Marked like a leopard with pied arms and face, And restless eyes aflame and teeth of pearl. Her as we ventured near, I heard awhile Say she was hungry, and a gleam like blood Lighted her lips and died in a fierce smile. A woman's hand behind me in the crowd Clutched at my arm, and through the booth there went A shiver of half fear, half merriment.