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Chatoyant of Seraglio
She shed her clothes; fur and silk first
Petrichor lingered in her hair
Seraglio was the holy-grail
For most women of the enlightened age.
Not for her; Chatoyant lady with her lithe body
Was a warier of her country.
She was here to collect dirt on Sultan Milas
The Holy Mattoto King.
Enchante, she offered her slender hand to
Sultan to kiss
Sultan took no offence
Just kissed her hand, taking her hand into his own
She caught a reflection of his penumbra in the
Crystal framed mirror. Long and tired.
Yes, even his shadow was tired in his later years
Ruling a declining empire was no easy feat!
Sultan’s wives sang lullabies to their tots in the adjacent rooms.
So what brings you here madam? Milas probed the Chatoyant lady
I am here to stay, she said curtly.
As what, forgive me lady? Sultan hesitated
As your wife of course, the lady said. Didn’t my good father tell you?
‘I am afraid that won’t be possible, I have already many good women as my wives
And Myriad sons to succeed me!’
Sultan played with his ruby ring as he delivered
His solemn speech!
“But! I will be the best wife to you! I promise you!”
The lady pursed her lips.
“Look lady! I can barely satisfy my harem of forty!
Sometimes I seek the aid of my viziers
So that I don’t know who are my sons
And who are my Viziers’s!”
“But I will bear the strongest son
For you, I promise you!” Pleaded the French lady
“I can’t suffer the indignity of going back!” She let a faux tear fall
Freely down her cheek.
A pause.
“OK!” agreed Milas, “you can stay but not as my wife but
my Chief Vizier’s!”
A persian cat walked into the room
And leapt on to Chatoyant lady’s lap
But Chatoyant lady was no Ailurophile
Despite her name! So she pushed the cat away.
Violently. Then the Sultan knew something was
Not quite right about this woman of feline beauty.
Standing before him semi nude.
He was not prepared to lose what was left of his empire
So that he banished the lady spy at once from his palace.
Alas she had already collected the dirt on the Sultan.
His virility and his sons legitimatesy to the throne were in question now.
Copyright ©
Yasemin Balandi
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