HER ON THURSDAY

HER ON THURSDAY

THEY PARADE FOR THE PRIVILEGE
OF STARRING IN THEIR OWN ONE ACT PLAY.
THE SULTAN WEIGHS THEM UP
POINTS TO COMMAND
`SHE TODAY, YOU TOMORROW, AND HER ON THURSDAY.`
INTO THE SERAGLIO THEY STREAM,
LIKE FISH FOR THE TAKING,
CHATTELS OF THE FLESH.
AUGMENTING THEIR BEST FOR THE SULTANS DELICTATION.
AFTER SATIATING HIS APPETITE
THE RAVEN HAIRED BEAUTY IS DISMISSED.
TO BE REPLACED BY TOMORROWS DISH.
SHE TOO DOES THE SULTANS BIDDING,
AND IS SENT AWAY.
ON THE APPOINTED DAY
THURSDAY`S CATCH IS ENSNARED.
THE SULTAN PRAISES HER PERFORMANCE
DETAINING HER FOR LONGER THAN THE OTHERS.
THROUGH THE SLEEPY LULL, THE SIREN PLOTS
WILL NOT ACCEDE.
AND WHILE THE SULTAN SLUMBERS
SHE UNBUCKLES HIS SWORD.
MOMENTARILY, THE SULTAN AWAKES THE CONCUBINE,
PUSHES HERSELF TO THE HARP.
`COMFORT ME SLAVE,
PLAY SWEET MUSIC,` HE DEMANDS.
SHE GARNERS HER COURAGE AND OBEYS.
AND AS THE SULTAN DRIFTS BACK INTO REPOSE,
ON THE SOFT SATIN SHEETS.
HER ON THURSDAY, TREADS FEATHER LIGHT
INTO THE NIGHT
WITH THE SULTANS HEAD AS HER PRIZE.

WORDS-J.S.HERSCOVITCH
COPYRIGHT
1988