Samson and Delilah
Richard
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Hear the tale of Samson, a man of strength untold,
Born by a barren woman, a blessing to behold.
by the heavens, with power in his hands,
A of Israel's people, protector of the lands.
His locks, raven rivers, held a magic all their own,
A Nazarite, a holy vow, his strength from God alone.
He through Philistine ranks, a whirlwind in the fight,
A of freedom, a beacon burning bright.
But Samson, with power, felt a yearning in his soul,
For love, gentle whispers, to make him feel whole.
He ventured Timnah, a Philistine town,
Where Delilah, with beauty, his spun around.
Her eyes, like pools of moonlight, held secret, dark and deep,
For she was sent by enemies, his slumbering strength to reap.
With honeyed words and cunning, she teased him day by day,
"Tell me," she'd plead, "the source, your power, where does it stay?"
Three times he lied, with riddles and with scorn,
Delilah, relentless, chipped away like a rising morn.
She and she flattered, played upon his pride,
Until, with groan of weakness, his secret he did confide.
"My hair," he whispered, broken, "a vow I hold so dear,
Cut it, and my strength shall vanish, leaving nothing here."
Delilah, triumphant, called upon her kin,
While Samson, unsuspecting, slept within.
The shears they snipped and severed, those locks of might,
His power drained like water, fading the night.
Philistines rushed upon him, their vengeance burning strong,
Blinded and betrayed, his freedom turned to wrong.
They him, chained him tightly, a spectacle of shame,
The judge of Israel, a prisoner, but not tamed.
His spirit, though diminished, yearned for a final stand,
To bring temple crashing down upon that Philistine land.
With muscles straining, twisting, a prayer upon his lips,
He pushed the outward, with strength from fingertips.
The temple walls came down, a death knell loud and clear,
Samson and tormentors, buried beneath the fear.
Though love became his downfall, a lesson etched in stone,
His sacrifice remembered, a never known.
A tale of strength and weakness, of and bitter plight,
The legend of Samson, forever in light.