Marat To His Audience

Marat To His Audience

For my skin, a bath was not

     a luxury, but a kindness

and a necessity, drawn by you,

my lovers, who had a motive

other than my healthy skin.

The lukewarm water chilled soon.

     My blood, spilt by you,

congealed. The Marquis sewed

me tight to my shroud,

     and my shroud to thee.