Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi-Ekphrastic Poem

Artemisia paints

the slaying of one man.

The abrupt ending of a siege

“The lord has struck him down

by the hand of a woman.” She calls.

They held him down roughly

after his drunken arrogance prevails

two women, finely dressed

head to toe in their hidden power.

The drops of blood run down that

pure white sheet on which he slept.

That false purity the man so simply fell for

now stained in ignorance.

His arm goes up

in useless defense

their triumph and indifference

so gracefully poised on their faces.

As the knife they wield ends his tyranny.

Judith hath slain Holofernes.