Atalanta disrobes,
wearing little but ribbons
that flutter at her ankles
and knees.
Hippomenes’ heart takes fire.
As they race,
side by side,
Atalanta sighs --
languishing on his face,
she halts,
to pick up the golden apples
he lets fall,
losing the race.
I am no Atalanta,
but am I Lilith?
but am I Lilith?
*In 8th Century Spain there was a myth among the Khabbalist community
that Adam had a first wife named Lilith. She was formed from the clay
of the earth by God at the same time he formed Adam. Lilith refused to
abdicate her equality to Adam, refused to submit to his will. She fought
with him about sex. She was a seducer of men and a strangler of children.
One day she uttered the four-letter word for God and flew off into the sky
never to return.
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