[Dream Gate] [Poet Glas]

Lilith

I was reading about Lilith, a bat-winged demon/goddess of 10-11th century Hebrew folklore. Lilith signifies female independence.

In the Christian-era tale from which we know her she was Adam's first wife, who was exiled from the Garden for not submitting to Adam. Succubus-like, she would creep from her desert home and seduce lonely men, riding them in their sleep. Similar night-winged demon/goddesses appear in Sumerian and other Fertile Crescent iconography; I believe this goddess image personifies a fear of unbridled female independence and sexuality.

Naturally, with all this rich Myth I felt inspired to write this poem. This piece was written on a Sunday at The Masquerade in Atlanta; the club was opened for Labor Day (not common on Sundays).

The curtains of Dawn have not been drawn,
Yet restless do I walk the room.
Hypnos came not, sweet sleep was gone
Without a kiss; I watch the moon.

Five dawns of pacing floors
with restless love my sleep denied;
Five nights she's come through barre'd doors
And amor's skills and mettle tried.

The red-tressed lass with flame-green eyes
And winge'd shadows on her back
Has drawn from me the labored cries
Of love's long hours with cruel tact.

She was once wed, she whispered sweet;
Her husband was the perfect lie.
Her blood-red nails tapped my heart beat;
Her husband drove her out to die.

Into a desert far from here
She fled and made a life of love;
She seeks those men without the fear
Of resting safe in amor's glove.

I know not why my pulse is weak
Or why my skin has turned so pale
Unless it is from lack of sleep
I've slowly suffered to make love's tale.

Her name is Lilith of blood-red hair;
She says she's older than I deem.
I know not how my fate will fare
As I take sleep for waking dream...

copyright 1 Sep 1996, by Earle B. 'Glas' Durboraw.

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