Rape of the Sabine Women

Neville

Rape of the Sabine Women

 

There was no rush, no rush at all

except for the wind

against that slow rise and the fall

of those breasts

and her belly whilst he paused

to draw breath

and she lay there, all but naked

and so shamelessly sprawled ..

Twas there, midst

torn sackcloth and straw where

she bled, that he

spoke to her in tongues and said ..

You may once have been beautiful

yet by no means

tho’ the most beautiful of them all ..

Since tomorrow

we shall each march upon Antemnae

and then take her too ..

 

  • Author: Neville (Offline Offline)
  • Published: January 12th, 2023 04:29
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 37
  • Users favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek
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Comments5

  • Fay Slimm.

    Outrageously kidnaped and then often raped these women raised the hackles of many a painter or writer and gave Roman soldiers a history of eternal shame that others have unfortunately followed time and again since then..... oooh am on my soapbox after reading your vivid pen-painting of those Sabine victims. Romulus had a lot to answer for methinks amigo eh ?..............x

    • Neville



      your pose there atop that soapbox is indeed a pretty picture .. and I am delighted you saw beyond the surface of the canvas I have barely scribbled here today dear Fay .. x

    • orchidee

      A poetic write N.
      Well, ignoring the title, this can't be about KP and I. Or you been spying on us?! lol. I will give her sackcloth and straw to lie on. heehee.

      • Neville



        if the truth be known .. I spy on no one .. yet I keep my eye on those that do & truly 🙂

        • orchidee

          Is KP sabine? I dunno.

        • MendedFences27

          Mythologically, this could be a scene between Jupiter and Terra Mater with Jupiter appalled by the actions of the Romans. As written, I see it as an encounter between a Roman soldier and a Sabine woman. What followed were years of many wars and expansion of the Roman Empire. In today's parlance it is an example of sexual harassment of women. Will it ever be otherwise? A real eye-opener this one. - Phil A.

          • Neville



            in fact, you are absolutely on target MF27 sir & for which I thank you hugely ....... Neville 🙂

          • L. B. Mek

            how Brave!
            before, ever
            we try to contemplate
            just how depraved our hu'man' inheritance
            as existence, is
            we must first, look-up
            the etymology of the word, 'Havoc'
            its very existence in modernity's vocabulary
            and its very meaning to all the victims, it encapsulates
            before
            the word, ever existed even
            far, far back
            to Euripides and 'The Trojan Women'
            or
            the very tragedies and horrific acts
            being carried out
            on those 'battlefields' of Ukraine,
            and all the wars around the world,
            this very minute...
            (were I a man, gifted
            the wisdom of genuine empathy
            how, dare i look upon the rage
            and justified wrath of a lady
            without being singed
            by the very pain, boiling
            in her pulsing DNA of inherited suffering)

            • Neville



              I am again magnificently indulged ..

            • Natalie Gladmir

              The motivation behind the abduction of the Sabine women is contested among ancient sources. Livy writes that Rome's motivation for abducting the Sabine women was solely to increase the city's population and claims that no direct sexual assault took place during the abduction. Livy says that Romulus offered the Sabine women free choice as well as civic and property rights. According to Livy, Romulus spoke to each of them in person, declaring "that it was all owing to the pride of their parents in denying right of intermarriage to their neighbours. They would live in honourable wedlock, and share all their property and civil rights, and – dearest of all to human nature – would be the mothers of freemen."
              What do you think about this historical analysis, dear author?

              • Neville


                Hello & thank you for showing such an interest in my little scribble .. I am grateful too for the question you have raised .. I will do my best to answer it write now .. Whilst aware of the oft cited historical motivations and background to said incident as per your generous review I must confess, I suspect Livy knows more about it than me .. Whereas my own very much open to interpretation portrayal is filled to the point of overflowing with poetic license .. Nevertheless, please note, I have subsequently tweaked the original and hope it meets with your approval ..

                Many thanks my friend and wishing you All Good Things .. Neville



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