Poems
The Provocative Lady
(Proverbs 7:6-27)
I
Lady, O Lady, Provocative Lady!
The day that we met—was it some unwelcome dream?—
My heart bowed to you, and, hastily
And foolishly, I uttered my vow. The gleam
On your face!-how could I resist? Truly
I thought I loved you! But that wasn't new, was
It?-at least, not for you.
You made me believe that—really I did, cause
I was a fool—you loved me and cherished me too.
But you aren't able to love, are you? That's how it's been, always.
That day that I saw
You, your hair was let loose and was lost in the wind.
Your lips were rose-red—how many matrimonial law
You broke, no one can tell—like the glove in your hand.
Your dress was also red, like a red cat's paw.
It was raining, and there you were, waiting
For me under your red umbrella.
You bid me to come, nothing
Doubting and—sadly—I obeyed as if you were my Laura.
I entered the house and was so unsuspecting.
The fire was burning. Hot tea was boiling. My heart
Was palpitating. Your gaze were ablaze
As your plan reached its second faze. Your words—by some art—
Were like darts to my heart. So, in my haste,
We were one. O where should I start!
The roses, which supported us, that scarlet river—it
Began consuming my soul. I tried to fight
It, but to no avail. You had me—to wit,
I was your slave. The rivers of love soon became seas of bitterness. Flight
Was my enemy and wouldn't be of aid. Your cruelty had no limit.
Day after day I served you, O Lady, and loved
You! But when I looked in your eyes—yes,
The fire was there, but devoid of love. Had
You changed to another? Less and less
You resembled my
I should have guessed you could not
Love me! But I didn't and I couldn't, 'cause life
For me was your capitulation, but my desolation. Blot
Out, O Time, blot out my shame! Like a knife
It protrudes my soul. Rid me—rid me of the inward rot!
O the folly of youth! To be led by desire,
Which can only devour!
There was none like her. Her beauty, like a lyre,
Pulled me each day. I passed her house often, hopeful
To catch but a glimpse of her!
O that, O that that day could be judged
And condemned to death when—from a distance,
Out of that isolated house, so far removed
From society—that woman approached and had me in a trance!
When, with practiced treachery, she greeted me, O how my heart bled!
If only I had heeded the counsel of the wise and had not lust
After her beauty! But I betrayed wisdom
And forsook understanding. As a bird lost
In its foolish song, unaware of the grim
Net of the fouler,
Of darkness in search of victims she. Her eyes
Are fueled by the power of lust, and a look in
Her eyes, just a look (yes,
Just a look!), and she can both life and senses drain from a man.
I was dying and she was as pleased as could be.
Her body was like awful poison to my soul.
The more I had her, the less I had her, and the less she
Was mine. Soon I was a lifeless shell under her control,
A captive never to be set free.
She kicked me and pushed me and
Beat me. But why did I not protest?
Think of the drug addict whose will's in the hand
Of the dealer! So it was with me. Her body was sweet
For a minute of a day, but O so bitter for the rest it remained.
I was confined, away from family and friend.
I had no one. No father. No mother.
No
But she mocked me and watched me wither.
Until at last, I breathed my last, soon to be dead.
I had no strength remaining to resist
As she dragged me. But my eyes were on her
Body, that Provocative Lady! How they lit
With stained hope and a longing so wear!
"Where we were going" never a question in my list.
Down, down, down we went,
Until darkness was everywhere.
She lit a little lamp and my heart
Seemed to stop with a convulsive
And griping fear. Bones, bones, everywhere—believe it!
I was not the only one.
Scores and scores of bones—a testimony
That
In her mouth and, I tell you—she's chewing it! Unholy
And Wicked Being! What business had I in her home!
She stared at me, and those fiery eyes consumed
My soul. Her hand pass'd o'er the lamp—she was coming!
I wept and cried and screamed to be freed.
By whom? No mother! No Father! But
Her eyes in the dark shined with lust unleash'd!
Her bonny fingers ran through my hair.
I tell you her ominous presence no longer ensnared
Witches lunch? I reckon I had
Already been. Day, after day, after day we were a pair.
Well, I wasn't. How?
O Laura, my dear Laura!
The door was flung open. The Light of the Son did show.
The witch—powerless—was O so helpless—quite a
Sight to behold. Laura took me home, away from the wicked crow.
If you want to see
I suggest that you don't—
It's just down
Men tread very often, a house for the fool to visit.
Let all who seek death, misery, and damnation go see!
Please heed my testimony told so faithfully.
You see!
By the police! They know full well what's really
There but just don't want it destroyed.
Perhaps, they can't destroy it in actuality.
II
Laura, you see, is a Christian.
I visited her gathering and I learned
Something profound: though wrecked and stain'
And drenched in filth, her Savior loved
Even me! Believing, He freed me from the penalty of my sin.
I regret to say that I still commit
Sin, but I find no joy in such a thing that my
Savior saved me from. Indeed, let
Me tell you, He suffered for it! Why
Should I in it find delight?
You probably guessed it; Laura and I got married.
She knew my life—O what a shameful life!—
And she still wanted
Me. But I love her so much more for bringing me
News of the cross! Else, by God's wrath I'd been consumed.
I sometime sit by my window.
From there I can see the path to
House. So many shallow
Youth I find. I try to warn that 'tis
Folly, but I'm taken for a boring fellow.
Lady, O Lady, Provocative Lady,
Hear me! You shall not go unpunished!
The precious lives that you take are so many!
Heedless they go to you so unprepared
In search of pleasure, only to find your cruelty!