How beautiful your sandaled feet,
O prince’s daughter!
Your graceful legs are like jewels,
the work of an artist’s hands.
Your navel is a rounded goblet
that never lacks blended wine.
Your waist is a mound of wheat
encircled by lilies.
Your breasts are like two fawns,
like twin fawns of a gazelle.
Your neck is like an ivory tower.
Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon
by the gate of Bath Rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
looking toward Damascus.
Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.
Your hair is like royal tapestry;
the king is held captive by its tresses.
How beautiful you are and how pleasing,
my love, with your delights!
Your stature is like that of the palm,
and your breasts like clusters of fruit.
I said, “I will climb the palm tree;
I will take hold of its fruit.”
May your breasts
be like clusters of grapes on the vine,
the fragrance of your breath like apples,
and your mouth like the best wine.
Song of Songs 7: 1-9.
February 21, 2015 2024
Eros versus Thanatos
Exactly eight years ago today May Khoen passed away. For me she is still very much alive, on a day like this I feel her presence very strongly. In memory of Khoen, who was a very sensual and open minded person, I have included a small part of the biblical Song of Songs in this post.*1
The Song of songs, often also called the Song of Solomon, is an erotic poem. It is quite unique within the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh: it shows no interest in Law or Covenant, or in the God of Israel, nor does it teach or explore wisdom. Instead, it celebrates sexual love, with the voices of two lovers, praising each other, yearning for each other, and inviting each other to enjoy.*2
©Huub Drenth
*1 Visit my posts Getting to know May Khoen and A gravestone for our sister to learn more about May Khoen's life and death.
*2 Go to this site for the Song of songs, New International Version (NIV). Here you find the complete Chapter 7 of Song of Songs, read by David Suchet.