Lilith

Ancient rhythms long lost call softly to her soul,

gentle winds

tug at tendrils,

swirling round, flowing down

to caress her still form.

Tempted from an ageless sleep, name once known,

beloved whispers

now beyond,

her song silenced for an eon,

face turned to dust.

Footsteps faded into patterns of the earth,

mountains, valleys,

an ocean of tears,

her story waits to emerge

in a desert of time.

Each strand of hair woven by her lover’s hand,

eager to bring life,

to birth a race,

her body touched by passion

she waited for him.

Death before disgrace, he wondered how he could

betray such trust,

on his knees

before his god, who turned away,

jealous and unrelenting.

Cast away she who begat demons

replace with another,

no thought of others

pliant, yielding, soft to touch,

yours alone.

Into the wild, alone and with honor intact

Lilith sleeps,

Lost but not forgotten

Waiting to be awakened.

By Ruth A. Souther - 1994

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