Work Text:
Maman is in martyrdom red every time we see her
Even in death the red surrounded her
Victor's face is first stained by his father's pride in legacy
Maman anoints him like priest of ancient days, but there was no bull,
no ram or even a lamb the blood is her, the death is hers
It is no salvation, it is a mark of damnation, a consecration of loss
The red of his gloves like an old wound, a scab, a stain
Elizabeth's necklace is bright like blood of martyrdom
Red on white
She laid down her mortal life to protect an immortal life
Her gown once pristine
No longer clean
The stain scarlet (his sin not theirs)
Dripping into the snow
Drying as she's dying to brown
Like earth like dirt
Thou art earth, and to earth shalt thou return