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HETAIRA
Through aeons her beauty has haunted men.
Haunted, seduced and destroyed them.
Reduced them to vessels, empty and dead
Like shells of passed creatures that float in cold seas.
From Lais of Corinth let the centuries roll
Her name does not really matter
She has gone by so many,
Had so many lovers
All gone now but she is forever.
Men rich and Men strong.
Men powerful, Men weak
Numbered like stars in the heaven.
Her names have been ageless but she stays the same
And feeds on their feeble transgressions.
Power she holds over weak foolish men
Power makes their minds hers to manage
Men think they are masters
The Hetaira know better
And turn their lust to her advantage.
From Lais to Aspasia
Diane to Marie
Alice, Kitty and Nell
Their power lives on
And will while weak men
Think they are still in control
For there is one now.
As always there is
The loveliest of them all
She knows I speak of her
I need not say her name
But she knows she has me in thrall.
Comments
RoseBlack
Sat, 2023-02-11 14:18
Succubus or Siren
A powerful woman, temptress and lover. Another strong write! I am thoroughly enjoying your works. Keep up the good job.
~RoseBlack~
Alex Tanner
Sun, 2023-02-12 05:21
Hetaira
Hello Rose, thank you, I am pleased you enjoy my efforts. More to come. Alex
Lavender
Sat, 2023-02-11 19:49
Hetaira
Hi, Alex,
Captivating poem all the way through. I know very little about the ancient Hetaira, so this was a lesson for me. Your final stanza is especially intriguing, and leaves me wondering...
L
Alex Tanner
Sun, 2023-02-12 05:24
Hetaira
Good Morning L and thank you. I did consider making the last part more explanatory then realised there is another poem in there, somewhere. I will try it sometime, I have scribbled a couple of lines to get me thinking. Alex
Candlewitch
Sun, 2023-02-12 07:22
dear Alex,
a powerful poem, but subtly so... you have captured this strong and wise woman with the face of many. excellent work. I look forward to more... thank you!
*hugs, Cat
*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.
Alex Tanner
Sun, 2023-02-12 18:02
Thank You
Hello Cat, Thanks once again. Alex
Alex Tanner
Sun, 2023-02-12 18:03
Thank You
Hello Kat and thank you. So satisfying to know ones work is appreciated. Alex
Rosewood Apothecary
Sun, 2023-02-12 14:14
They weren’t prostitutes
Well they were but they were more like escorts. Very high class escorts.
Learning new stuff is awesome!
Tim
Alex Tanner
Sun, 2023-02-12 18:00
Hetaira
Quite right Tim. I had originally planned to title it 'The Courtesan' but that didn't give it the sense of the ages I wanted to suggest. Alex