I am a captive of the wicked queen.
My mind’s a blank; the temptress took my soul.
I know too well  what this desire must mean.

And oh! The evil beauty I have seen.
Though loving her must take a dreadful toll,
I am a captive of the wicked queen.

For her, I gladly make myself unclean –
She’ll take my heart and leave a gaping hole –
I know too well  what this desire must mean.

I know, as well, it’s sinful and obscene…
Too late! The dice are loaded, and they roll…
I am a captive of the wicked queen.

She smiles at me, triumphant and serene.
Her skin’s milk white, her heart’s as black as coal.
I know too well  what this desire must mean.

What of the last inevitable scene –
My blood poured in a sacrificial bowl?
I am a captive of the wicked queen.
I know too well  what this desire must mean.

 

David Whippman is a British poet, now retired after a career in healthcare. Over the years he’s had quite a few poems, articles and short stories published in various magazines

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9 Responses

  2. C.B. Anderson

    Sometimes narrowly-focused misogyny is justified. I often wonder how much a man would put up with for the prospect of having sex. A lot, I’m inclined to believe, and depending on the man, perhaps even the forfeiture of his immortal soul. Methinks there’s a villain lurking inside of every villanelle.

    Reply
    • dave whippman

      Thanks for the feedback CB. When I wrote this, I was thinking on the lines of a fantasy-type scene, where the female is a sorceress or whatever; but it can indeed be taken as an allegory for how we guys make fools of ourselves when lust takes control.

      Reply
  5. Monty

    Well played, David.

    A challenging Form well-tackled. Nothing forced and no discipline sacrificed in order to fit the Form.

    A trivial query: In the 3rd line, there’s a slightly larger space between the words ‘well’ and ‘what’.
    I immediately assumed that it was done by accident; but then noticed the same thing occurs in the thrice repeating of the same line. I then realised that it couldn’t have been by accident. Thus, my curiosity demands that I ask you your reason for the enlargement.

    Reply

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