Gomer's Dance

The smoke, the dark, the sounds of the harem
Dropped to a hush when she walked in.
The sneers, the gossip went round among them:
“Does the prophet know where his wife has been?”
She stepped up to the man in the corner,
Beguiled by the dark that hid his face.
She dropped to her knees, the consummate performer,
Then lifted her veil with practiced grace.
She stood and turned; once again, a hush.
Then she writhed in a dance they couldn’t forget.
On her face, an innocent, haunting flush,
As she whirled and twirled and leaped and bent.
The lewd and drunk all called for more-
And none of them did she deny.
They clapped, delighted she played the whore:
As restraint ebbed, and eventually died.
Over and over, above the din,
She held out jeweled arms.
They gladly helped her in her sin;
They gave in to her charms.
Only when the night was so far spent
Did she realize she was remiss.
To her loving husband’s arms she went,
With tears in her eyes and one more promise.