Sensual Medieval Poem of the Day: Moses ibn Ezra

[transemacabre]

Moses ibn Ezra was a masterful Jewish poet who wrote in 11th century Spain. A scion of a brilliant and talented family, he was a philosopher, a poet, and a linguist.


Beautiful is the loved one
As she sways in the dance
Like a bough of the myrtle,
Her unbound tresses
Billowing around her.
She slays me with the arrows of her glances --
They are drunk with my love --
But she shows no mercy.

Short and sweet, in this poem Moses tells us of a belle dame sans merci several centuries before Keats!