War of Lilies and of Roses (On the Rape of Lucrece)
WAR OF LILIES AND OF ROSES
Lilies white, blushing with red roses sweet
A lily-rose fair, unstained, Rome's virtuous Lucrece
Of beauty so strong, even in desire, men doth retreat.
Sextus Tarquinius vile with the lust that men enclose
Defiant, would defile, such a flawless rose
Unable to repose his swelling desire
Enraged by her beauty, to merely admire
Nympholeptic he, to acquire
Lucrece of the rose rubbed cheeks and lily white face
In lust Sextus Tarquinius wist wilt and debase
And force open lily white thighs
deified
he
defiled
she
To wrench such peddles enclosed
Ravaging such a sacred lily, rose
eros
sore
bled
Till white stained red, both thigh and bed
Leaving such a sweet flower torn, alive
So, polluted, no longer chaste, she with dagger neat
Did drive sharp between her bosom's blossom, sweet
Which did anoint red the sheet
Roses spilled; lilies retreat.
Death be sweet and release
Rome's sweet Lucrece
Finishing Line Press. Book FAREWELL TO THE DUST, by C. S. Leaf avalible March 2008
www.FinishingLinePress.com
Copyright © Craig Leaf | Year Posted 2007
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment