Woe to the bloody city,
full of lies & booty—no end to the plunder!
Crack of whip & rumble of wheel,
galloping horse & bounding chariot!
Horsemen charging,
flashing sword & glittering spear,
hosts of slain, heaps of corpses,
they stumble over bodies without end
graceful & of deadly charms,
who betrays nations with her harlotries,
& peoples with her charms.
Behold, I'm against you, says the Lord
I will lift up your skirts over your face
& let nations look upon your nakedness & shame.
& make you a gazingstock.
All who look upon you will shrink from you & say,
"Wasted is (Portland); who will bemoan her?
whence shall I seek comforters for her?"