Lilith's Vow

Lilith’s Vow.

I came howling into the world
a buckling Fury
torn from the sweet soft dark-
bolted, head locked
with Adam.

My brother.
My love.

I wanted him at once.

So coy, so maddening-
quivering, bow-shaped mouth,
silken skin, downy with hairs
like a peach-

Denying, pushing back
when I knew! I saw!-
from his calf’s eyes,
his touch
he was as hungry, thirsty
for satisfaction.

I took him to the green heart of Eden,
writhed, bit,
bled, shrieked.
limbs so entangled we
could no longer tell
whose were whose.

Frustrating, how soon
his passion was spent-
I wanted more, and told him so.
He rolled over, bored
now he’d reached
the stars.

(He preferred to travel
than arrive
once the horizon was in sight
he lost interest).

Nights we’d pant, gasp,
Days he shook me off,
made excuses-

“You’re twice the man I am.”

Hell, like I didn’t know that.
he was opalescent as
an angel;
I was harder, darker,
eyes crescents, hair
ropes to tighten, strangle.

I gloried in the night
its disguise-
he felt subterfuge
was dishonest.

I was quick, clear-cut,
brutal-
he was gentle, lilting,
caressing.

Put a thunderbolt
beside a rainbow.
You’ll see what I mean.

*

Our trysts were discovered.
Adam saw Him first
as He reared up in our canopy;
I carried on-
oblivious, dazed.

Adam rolled from underneath me,
darting into the brush
to hide himself.
I got up,
defiance etched on my face.

Come on, then.
Do your worst, I dared.

I was expelled from the Garden-
the awful glare
of Our Father
slicing to the quick


I sit in the wilderness,
eat spoiled fruits,
juice darkens livid
round my mouth.

Yesterday I saw Her-
the Other Woman-

The glimmer off dawn
dulcet dew
strung on a web-
everything I’m not.

She wasn’t his equal,
she was a spare rib.
I know I shouldn’t hate her-
she’s too insignificant,
not worth the energy.

but

when I see them together,
how they compliment one another-

my love, reflected
in her bright eyes,
not my smouldering ones-

my gorge rises.

Another core lands at my feet.