For Paul Brookes’ Special Ekphrastic Challenge, Day Twenty-Three, a response to all three works below.
-Kerfe Roig “symbols (for alice neel)” 
-Marcel Herms “Het zieden” 
Christine O’Connor
Fates and Fables
Legs, curves, the apple-breasts that tempt—
lascivious wretch, beneath contempt,
she wants to seduce, she’s wanton and witch,
and she makes you itch and twitch–
of course, she’s weak, it’s never you,
but somehow, she is powerful, too—
there’s no logic, and it’s not fair
she can curse bodies, make rank the air
she must be bound and constrained,
kept guarded, restrained,
from knowledge–her poor mind
is feeble, and you’re only being kind,
because she’s the root of all evil,
cursed for eternity, the cause of upheavals.
You hate yourself–you can’t stay chaste,
it’s her fault you taste
her lips and smell her scent. You cry to the crowd
they seethe and shout,
You raise your symbols–cross, star, flag, book, fruit—
and they scatter, rampage, burn, hang, bomb, shoot.
The mob does not think at all,
they simply heed your strident call
in ferocious fury, they are the judges,
there is no jury
of her peers–
for far too many years. . .
Perhaps a day comes, of peaceful blue
calm colors and serene hues,
perhaps it comes, or perhaps it’s a fable,
perhaps we find the way, perhaps someday, we’re able.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
A very powerful rendering of the Eve myth. I could feel my gorge rising as I read. Perhaps one day we will escape its legacy. Perhaps.
Thank you so much, Liz. I’m glad you felt this way!
You’re most welcome, Merril.
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
Powerful pictures Merril and your rendering in words of them has left me – speechless. Eve and her sister Lilith were trailblazers and will continue to be, They’ll bring in hues of blue and shades of saffron …
Thank you so much, Susan!
Powerful, Merril. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much, Jill.
I hope that time is coming. Too many steps back lately. (K)
Yes. Sigh.
It’s so funny, because I am watching the Lucifer series (yeah, yeah, it’s ridiculous but sometimes you just need fluff) and Eve just showed up – none too pleased with the lot she’s been given 🙂
Wonderfully done!
That’s a funny coincidence. Thank you!
And no judging. I totally get it. Can you say, “Bridgerton?” 😀
It is! And thank you -;)
I tried to watch Bridgerton but think I was not in the mood. I shall try it again when I run out of Lucifer episodes 😉
LOL
Oh, interesting. I’m surprised you didn’t care for Bridgerton–I had to keep myself from binging it in a weekend–though I think one of my daughters and niece did just that. 🤣
No, I think I will love it… I was just not in the mood at the time I tried to watch it. I happen to know once I start, I will go for it in a couple days 😉
My goodness me. Such a powerful explosion
Thank you (I think). Sometimes I have to go there. 😏
🙂 Yes, indeed
Amazing writing, Merril. Love the match with photos. 🙂
Thank you so much, Gwen!