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PN Review 276
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This poem is taken from PN Review 171, Volume 33 Number 1, September - October 2006.

New Texts and Texts in New Form Robert Southwell

 Some new texts, or texts which appear in a markedly new form.

Christs bloody sweate

 
Fatt soyle, full springe, sweete olive, grape of blisse
That yeldes, that streames, that powres, that dost distil
Untild,      undrawne, unstampde, untouchd of presse
Deare fruit, cleare brooks, fayre oyle, sweete wine at will


 Thus Christ unforc’d preventes in shedding bloode
 The whippes the thornes the nailes the speare and roode.

 He Pelicans he Phenix fate doth prove
 Whome flames consume whom streames enforce to die
 How burneth bloud howe bleedeth burning love
 Can one in flame and streame both bathe and frye
 How coulde he joyne a Phenix fyerye paynes
 In faynting pelicans still bleeding vaynes

 Elias once to prove gods soveraigne powre
 By praire procur’d a fier of wondrous force
 That blood and wood and water did devoure
 Yea stones and dust beyonde all natures course
 Such fire is love that fedd with gory bloode
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