“Queen of Sheba”

https://goo.gl/YNzows

 

“Queen of Sheba” is a poem in flux…movement.  I published it in the new edition of “A Seasoning of Lust”, published in mid December, 2016, by Amazon.com.  I’ve changed it a bit here, and I believe many poems can be revised, rewritten.  I tried for rhythm in the beginning and found it hard to sustain. 

Lady Nyo

Queen of Sheba

–

She walked right by me,

The Queen of Sheba

Black skin glinting like steel in the sun.

Proud breasts topped with prouder nipples

Black cherry rubies jutting east to west.

Spangled turban hits the North Star

Jeweled feet tramples South Pole beneath,

All space guarded by curved, sharp fangs,

Such dangerous territory–alien ground.

Tattooed ribbons down sinuous arms

Black snakes born with sensuous intent.

Hot sun glances off gold-tipped teeth–

Shot of mystery tween mahogany lips,

Rarely a smile– more of a sneer.

Kohl eyes flashing steady disdain,

Measuring decayed urban jungle

From cracked sidewalks littered

With  broken shards of broken lives,

Burnt out neon signs,

Tumbled pool halls,

Violence growing—

Like kudzu in the night.

I offered the most honeyed of fruits,

Celestial music of spinning spheres,

Jewels of priceless glowing stars,

Captured in baskets for her fondling,

Brought to earth to surround with

Undeniable majesty-

An aura of delight,

Honor,

Cosmic glory.

Ah, Cruel Queen of Sheba!

No glance in my direction.

Obviously  other fish to fry,

Plenty of empires to plunder–

Though I promised the

Wealth,

Splendor,

Fame,

And the Wisdom of Solomon.

Jane Kohut-Bartels

Copyrighted, 2017, from “A Seasoning of Lust”,  published December, 2016, by Amazon. com.

 

 

 

 

“Queen of Sheba”…….poetry

 

 

She walks right by me, Queen of Sheba,

Black skin glinting like steel in the sun.

Proud breasts topped with prouder nipples

Black rubies jutting east to west.

 

Her spangled turban hits the North Star

Jeweled feet trample the South Pole beneath,

All space between guarded by curved fangs,

Such dangerous territory–alien ground.

 

Tattooed ribbons flow down sinuous arms

Black snakes born with sensuous intent.

Hot sun glances off gold-tipped teeth–

A shot of mystery between mahogany lips,

Giving rarely a smile– more of a sneer.

 

 

Kohl eyes flash a steady disdain,

While measuring the urban jungle

From cracked sidewalks littered

With the broken shards of broken lives,

To burnt out neon signs of tumbled pool halls.

 

 

I offered the most honeyed of fruits,

Celestial music of spinning spheres,

Jewels of priceless glowing stars,

Captured in baskets for her fondling,

Brought to earth to surround with

Undeniable majesty-

An aura of delight,

Honor,

Cosmic glory.

 

 

Ah, Cruel Queen of Sheba!

No glance in my direction.

Obviously had other fish to fry,

With plenty of empires to plunder–

Though I promised the

Wealth,

Splendor,

Fame,

And the Wisdom of Solomon.

—

 

Jane Kohut-Bartels

Copyrighted, 2016 (Queen of Sheba originally published in “A Seasoning of Lust”, Lulu.com, 2009)

“Queen of Sheba”

 

Queen of Sheba

 

This poem has gone through numerous revisions and still it gives me fits.  I’m finding  poetry has many things involved, and rhyme is the least of  worries.   This one does not  rhyme, but the rhythm still gives me shingles.

Lady Nyo

Posted for Oneshotpoetry.blogspot.com, a great site to read and learn from other poets.

–

QUEEN OF SHEBA

–

She walks right by me, the Queen of Sheba

Black skin glinting like steel in the sun.

Proud breasts topped with prouder nipples

Black rubies jutting east to west.

Her spangled turban hits the North Star

Jeweled feet trample the South Pole beneath,

Space between  guarded by curved fangs,

Dangerous territory! Alien ground.

–

Tattooed ribbons flow down sinuous arms

Black snakes born with sensuous intent.

Hot sun glances off gold-tipped teeth–

A shot of mystery between mahogany lips,

Rarely a smile– more of a sneer.

–

Kohl eyes flash a steady disdain,

Measuring her  urban jungle

From cracked sidewalks littered

With the broken shards of broken lives,

To burnt out neon signs of tumbled pool halls.

–

I offered the most honeyed of fruits,

Celestial music of spinning spheres,

Jewels of priceless glowing stars,

Captured in baskets for her fondling,

Brought to earth to surround with

Undeniable majesty-

An aura of delight,

Honor,

Cosmic glory.

–

Ah, Cruel Queen of Sheba!

She had other fish to fry,

more empires to plunder-

Plenty of leftover sins to warm and devour.

And not a glance in my direction,

as she passed right by me–

Though I promised the

Wealth,

Splendor,

Fame,

And the Wisdom of Solomon.

Selah!

–

Jane Kohut-Bartels

Copyrighted, 2010

–

A version of this poem was published in  “A Seasoning of Lust”,

obtainable from Lulu.com

“Queen of Sheba”

From the work in progress:  “White Cranes of Heaven”.

Queen of Sheba

—

She walked right by me, Queen of Sheba–

Black skin glinting like steel in the sun,

Proud breasts  with prouder nipples

Jutting black rubies, points east to west.

Turbaned head hitting the North Star

Jeweled feet the South Pole,

All space between

Guarded by curved fangs,

Dangerous territory, alien ground.

—

Tattooed ribbons flowed down arms

Black snakes with sensuous intent.

The sun shone on gold- tipped teeth

Beacons between dark, stained lips,

Showed rarely a smile, more of a sneer.

Kohl eyes flashed disdain,

Measured her vast urban jungle

From cracked sidewalks littered

With the broken shards of broken lives,

To burnt out neon signs of tumbled pool halls.

—

I offered the most honeyed of fruits,

Celestial music of spinning spheres

Jewels of glowing stars

Captured in baskets for her fondling,

Brought to earth to surround with

Their undeniable glory-

An aura of delight, honor, cosmic majesty.

—

Ah, Cruel Queen of Sheba!

No glance in my direction.

She had other fish to fry

Though I promised her the wealth,

Wisdom of Solomon.

—

Jane Kohut-Bartels

Copyrighted, 2010

“Queen of Sheba” from “A Seasoning of Lust”

A reader, “Z” also chimed in and suggested I continue to post some of of the inners of “Seasoning….”  I think it’s a good thing to do because it might give pleasure to more readers.   One never knows exactly the impact of one’s writing unless told.  Well, my mother at 89 told me what she thought, but my target audience for this  book AREN’T  89 year old women.

Thank you, Z, for your encouragement and good to hear from you again.

“Queen of Sheba” is a rather culture specific view of a particular woman.  A favorite of the reviewer, Steve Issac (http://readingbypublight.blogspot.com)

QUEEN OF SHEBA

She walked right by me, the Queen of Sheba
black skin glinting like steel in the sun,
proud breasts topped with prouder nipples
pointing east to west, jutting black rubies,
her turbaned head hitting the North Star
her jeweled feet the South Pole.
All space between
guarded by curved fangs,
dangerous territory, alien ground.

Tattooed ribbons flowed down arms
black snakes with sensuous intent,
the sun shone on gold- tipped teeth
beacons between her dark, stained lips,
showing rarely a smile, more of a sneer.
Black-kohl eyes flashing disdain,
measuring  her vast urban jungle
from the cracked sidewalks littered
with broken shards of broken lives,
to the burnt out neon signs of closed pool halls.

I offered the most honeyed of fruits,
the celestial music of  spinning spheres
the jewels of glowing stars
captured in baskets for her fondling,
brought down to earth to surround with
their undeniable glory-
an aura of delight, honor, cosmic majesty.

Ah! Cruel Queen of Sheba
walked right by me,
no glance in my direction.
She had other fish to fry
though I promised her the wealth
and wisdom of Solomon.

Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2009

It’s Friday! We have been good…A Poem!

QUEEN OF SHEBA

She walked right by me, a Queen of Sheba
black skin glinting like steel in the sun,
proud breasts topped with prouder nipples
pointing east to west
her turbaned head hitting the North Star
her jeweled feet the South Pole.
all space between
guarded by curved fangs,
dangerous territory.

Tattooed ribbons flowed down her arms
black snakes with sensuous intent,
the sun shone on gold- tipped teeth
when she parted her dark, stained lips,
rarely a smile, more of a sneer.
Black-kohl eyes flash her disdain,
measuring  her vast urban jungle
from the cracked sidewalks littered
with a culture’s debris.

I offered her the most honeyed of fruits,
the celestial music of planets,
the jewels of shining, piercing stars
captured in baskets for her fondling,
brought down to earth to surround her with
their unapproachable beauty,
a veil of delight and honor.

Ah! Cruel Queen of Sheba
walked right by me,
no glance in my direction,
she had other fish to fry
though I promised the wealth
and wisdom of Solomon.

Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2008