Sirens

(Victorian artist William Holman Hunt was both attracted and repelled by his models) Can we agree that, terrified of sex, Hunt couldn’t help but hunt it, seek it out? There doesn’t seem to be a shred of doubt. He felt his women exercised some hex, conspiracy throughout the lower decks, full frontal on his Puritan redoubt! He hated what he couldn’t live without (the only punter in the multiplex). And Annie, Fanny, Edith – on they came, alluring, curing, reassuring, fey, and Hunt (who fastened fast on blame and shame) was racked by guilt and had to run away. Another mantis, but the same old prey, (mixed metaphor) Hunt headed for the flame.