Siren
The siren of the dipping pool
Bathes in the light of the dying day
Basks in the birthing of the new night
Shadowed by the old bent tree
At the river's edge
Hypnotic droplets glisten on her thighs
Men have gone to war, over
Still she shines.
She makes no apologies
For in the blink of an eye
Another heart is captured
A twist of the wrist
Smashes it into smithereens
As she lays claim to his very soul
Stamping ownership on his skin.
Humming the tune of his life.
The lazy sway of the tree
Bows to her gifted song
bark recoiling from her lashes
To fight, is futile
There is no escape
Just surrender
Fear its self
Can't easily be hidden.
As she bathes in the dipping pool,
of lost souls once more
Yet, still she shines in all her glory.
Is the urge to gamble
Greater than the will to live?
Do you dare to cast the dice
Gamble with your life?
Trying to silence the siren's chorus.
©Anna Aitken 3/10/18
Wonderful poem and a great read, the house always wins unless your very lucky.
Write comment. A nice piece of work, Annette. Read my poem, Love and Iust. Thanks
I'll try my luck with the dipping pool's siren. and, though her treasure be girded with iron. I'll pledge my all to her two glistening thighs, and soon enough I'll hear her ecstatic sighs, as the iron falls away and falls to the floor, and the siren calls out: " Give me more, MORE! " to MyPoemList. and i think i'll put it into April showcase, my dear. bri to MyPoemList :)
A truly terrific piece of writing, Annette. Your skill has grown immeasurably in the past few years. Your extended metaphor was wonderfully crafted with deft imagery that carried the reader's attention, and the conclusion stuck like a knife. Bravo, and blessings to you!
Superb poem using the image of a siren seducing the men to gamble away all they possess, initially their material wealth, then their dignity and finally their soul. The pool of lost souls. This poem deserves to be read in schools. Let every youth be aware of the tricky danger of gambling. The games are designed to trick and destroy the gambler. I hope we get a wisdom revolution soon, that will leave all casinos empty.
I love especially the first 6 lines, evoking a sensual mystic appeal, in my mind I added 'In the current lure at the river's edge' the setting is the magic transition between day and night, the contrast from rippling sunlight on the water to the magic of full moonlight or shades of moonlight in the night. Sirens, some nature settings, always have the potential to swallow romantics whole in the dancing moonlight shadows of the night.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Hi Annette, Greed is the vice on which gambling thrives. As one of our poets of the yore (Malayalam poet of 18th century, Kunjan Nambiar) has written, greed for wealth/ Power and for women/ are the two vices that is the root cause of all strifes and wars in the world. A very purposeful write.Evocative