The Wisdom of Solomon

"When the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom . . . there was no spirit left in her." -- 1 Kgs 10:4-5

"But king Solomon loved many strange women . . ." -- 1 Kgs 11:1

I am Solomon, wise
except in love. I am a fool's fool,
you my favorite forbidden mistress.
I am always worshipping women
who make me to serve stone idols.
I am always wandering after women
who turn my clay skin to stone,
who turn my clay heart to a puddle of red mud
which reflects each feminine image.

I have lusted for women whose black skin
had the dark luster of obsidian.
I have known lovers whose fit young breasts
rested, suspended from their chests,
like pairs of firm yellow pears,
women with stomachs smooth
as the waxy, white rind of the ripe honeydew.
I have savored mouths which hint of the scent
of fresh mint, citrus, and basil.

Now here we stand,
you, my favorite forbidden mistress,
I, Solomon, wise except in love.
Now here we stand,
concealed in my chambers,
beside my downy, crimson couch.

Your arms dangle around my neck,
you hang there, careless.
Before you I am still and helpless
like an ancient column, overgrown, green
with grape vines, your arms the thin tendrils
which caress and cling to the column
and slowly cleave its stony surface
until the cracks and the red, wet weight of the grapes
climax in its collapse, and it crumbles.