Arms and the girl I sing - O rare <br />arms that are braceleted and white and bare <br /> <br />arms that were lovely Helen's, in whose name <br />Greek slaughtered Trojan. Helen was to blame. <br /> <br />Scape-nanny call her; wars for turf <br />and profit don't sound glamorous enough. <br /> <br />Mythologize your women! None escape. <br />Europe was named from an act of bestial rape: <br /> <br />Eponymous girl on bull-back, he intent <br />on scattering sperm across a continent. <br /> <br />Old Zeus refused to take the rap. <br />It's not his name in big print on the map. <br /> <br />But let's go back to the beginning <br />when sinners didn't know that they were sinning. <br /> <br />He, one rib short: she lived to rue it <br />when Adam said to God, "She made me do it." <br /> <br />Eve learned that learning was a dangerous thing <br />for her: no end of trouble would it bring. <br /> <br />An educated woman is a danger. <br />Lock up your mate! Keep a submissive stranger <br /> <br />like Darby's Joan, content with church and Kinder, <br />not like that sainted Joan, burnt to a cinder. <br /> <br />Whether we wield a scepter or a mop <br />It's clear you fear that we may get on top. <br /> <br />And if we do -I say it without animus- <br />It's not from you we learned to be magnaminous.<br /><br />Carolyn Kizer<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/fearful-women/
