Femmes Fatales Poem by gershon hepner

Femmes Fatales

Rating: 4.5


So many femmes fatales the bible
describes, the first one Eve,
for she could not refute as libel
the story men believe.
She was the first to taste the fruit
that caused concupiscence
which made First Man in birthday suit
think what she said made sense
and do as she suggested and
displease the Lord above,
so he was forced to leave the land
that was a garden, love.

The other temptresses are legion,
like Kosbi, Midianite,
seducing in a desert region
a noble Israelite.
If Phineas had not been brave
and killed them with his lance
while they were making love to save
his honor there’s a chance
God might have said: “To hell with them, ”
destroying all the Jews,
for sins of femmes fatales condemn
the victims whom they choose.

Delilah was a temptress, too,
and cut her lover’s hair;
She learned that’s what she had to do
while she was lying bare,
seducing him with female charms,
below, behind and middle,
to help her tie his legs and arms
and solve his nazir riddle.
She caused him wineless to unwind
and learn that honesty’s
no policy to follow, blind
like him, agonistes.

There's many more, like Jezebel,
beloved of King Ahab,
who showed their men the way to hell,
but one was good, called Rahab,
a prostitute who helped two spies
escape from Jericho,
she used her brains and not her thighs
to help her people’s foe
destroy the walls of her own city,
the greatest fatale femme,
because she was not merely pretty
and surely was not dumb,
but chose to help the heroes whom
the bible says were right,
and shared with them her only room
when lonely in the night.
She hid them on the roof with flax
once she with them had lain,
while they were lying on their back,
and mounted thus the twain.

So many femmes fatales there were
in bible times, and now
such women surely still occur
and fatally men wow.
Beware their wiles, for fatal, shady,
they love their men to death,
and many of them match the lady
whom Shakespeare called Macbeth,
but if you're looking for some fun,
a Rahab may be ready
to change her ways, once she has won
your heart, and then go steady.



7/6/98,12/6/05

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Hugh Cobb 09 December 2005

Gershon: A clever piece, indeed! I loved the exploration of the theme. Well-rendered technically as usual with your work. Hugh

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