Songs of Bilitis - Benjamin Adamah

MNASIDIKA'S THREE BEAUTIES
That Mnasidika may be protected by the gods, I sacrificed two doves and two
male hares to laughter-loving Aphrodite.
To Ares 80 I have given two armed cocks, and sinister Hecate has received two
dogs who howled beneath the knife.
Nor have I wrongly prayed these three immortals, for Mnasidika bears upon her
face the imprint of their trinal godhead:
Her lips are red as copper, her hair shines blue as steel and her eyes are black as
silver.
THE GROTTO OF THE NYMPHS
Your little feet are daintier than those of silver Thetis. You cross your arms and
press your breasts together, and rock them softly, like two snowy doves.
Beneath your hair you hide your moistened eyes, your trembling mouth and the
red flowers of your ears; but naught shall stay my gentle glance or the warm
breath of my kiss.
For in the secret of your body it is you, beloved Mnasidika, who hide the grotto of
the nymphs which aged Homer sings, the place where the naïads weave their
purple robes.
Where drop by drop the quenchless springs do flow, and from which the Northern
gate permits men to descend, and where the South Gate lets Immortals enter.
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