Among fallen flowers

of outlived time

behold a lady

flesh upon flesh

heady and fresh

penetrating depths

opening her pores

glistening skin

to enfold him therein

layered shadows

of abstract depths

displayed before him

breezing through life

tossled hair

not a care

thistle in air

umbrella of life

tossed to the sky

watch her fly

seagull in flight

woman of night

hanging on stars

perpetrator of lust

prayed he

freedom of toes

prances own way

lose her, afraid he

slightly south of shady

this spirited lady,

give me her wind

to dance, prayed he

milady, my Katie

a brewing storm

cavorting in darkness

and light churning

convulses through

inner glow profanely

undulating in sweet water

of tidal life

splayed she

screaming emotions

in savage wind, so racy

his passion

arrayed he

zany thoughts

of passion gaiety 

grasping on to her

with slippery fingers

vaguely, vainly

can’t trap her spirit

water through fingers

catching her stardust

taking her body

gamely, gaily

hourly, daily

essence of incense

dispensed to intense

suspense of her presence

caged ambivalence

permeates soul

beckons him

threatens reason

pleasing, teasing

seizing, squeezing

robustly wade in

shady lady

degrade he

played he

raid he

symmetry of

sweet bones

bravely, sagely

behold his lady.

"Behold, a Lady...."

"My God it worked."

"God had nothing to do with it."

"Have you thought of the moral implications"

"I only think of our survival, of the species survival."

"We can not ignore what she will go through. We have to think about her, about what time and experience will reveal to her- unless. She does have all the faculties of a ...normal woman?" 

"Yes, I do not have the means, here, to limit cognitive functions without also affecting the offspring. She has all the capacities of the human woman."

"You mean to say that had you the ability--"

"I mean to say that she is completely normal in as much as a woman constructed in a lab can be."

"That is not an answer."

"That is all I will give! Mr. Hapsis, I ask you to remember what we are about here. We can not indulge in the dialogue of philosophers. We have not been given a choice. She is the currency by which we pay for survival. And I tell you, I think survival has come cheap. One life sacrificed, one life given. Have you no perspective? Can you not even fathom what she will become. The second mother to her species. She is the second coming of Eve. And I will crush under heel, any serpent in my garden."

Behold, a Lady... something I shall never be

Too fancy, refined, PROPER for crazy me

I change out of my work dress, soon as I can

Sweatpants, no bra, (I kinda look like a man!)

Maybe a chick- nah, too old for that label

A gal? A lass?  Wait, that sounds like a fable!

But, can't be a girl- grey hairs, roots deny

Guess my tresses need more blond hair dye

Suppressing swear words all day at my school

I think, means "Lady"? not me, I'm too cool

Home to my daughter, sarcastic like her mom

She's no lady, either, a chic with teen "wisdom"

Yup, too much attitude to be "Lady" defined

I wear too little makeup, drink too much wine

My parents may have wished a lady I'd act like

Instead, I run, workout, go for a frequent hike

Nope, not me.  Definitely, definitely not a lady

But, maybe- if I cross my legs, sit demurely

If I banish my sweats, forego my flannels

Maybe then, grace and virtue I can channel

Perhaps, I can limit my swearing, keep quiet

Stifle opinions when men talk of matters politic

Oh, thank God I'm not A LADY TO BEHOLD

Suppressing my opinions?  I'm just too damn old!!

A lady springs life from her womb

Bringing forth a child to groom

A little girl with solemn eyes

Who calls upon the sun to rise

The little girl with golden hair

And skin so silky soft and fair

Breaths new life into the heart 

Of one who begs his life to part

She gives him back his will to live

And teaches him how to forgive

Himself and all who've done him wrong

Tho he knew how all along

The child will grow up true and bright

To many lives she will bring light

The woman she becomes will be

A muse of strength and bravery

Her virtue shows in every mood

She sports a cultured attitude

Grace and beauty from within

Discreet when she is want to sin

She will know her destiny

She walks with devote loyalty

And wisdom that cannot be sold

A lady... something to behold.

......................

Dammit all to Hades with the 200 word minimum! I don't have any more words to write about ladies! This is all I've got, you see, so I'm going to bitch about having to meet a 200 word minimum in a most unlady-like manner until I fulfill the rest of my damned 200 god forsaken, molly whoppin words! Ladies aren't that complicated and I don't know what else to write about the creatures, that's the truth! :) Love these challenges!

Behold, a Lady with milk-white pearls

Pencil straight posture and neat raven curls

Behold, a Lady with fair, silky skin

Who looks like no other and laughs at all of them

Behold, a Lady who came alone tonight

No man on her left, no man on her right

Behold, a Lady with devilish charm

And a quick wit that has the power to alarm

Behold, a Lady, one that nobody knows

She stays for hours and suddenly goes

Behold, a Lady, more like a coquette

She lures men in and forgets all the rest

Now, the Lady has gone to her quarters

Her dress has been shed and she looks a bit shorter

Behold, the Lady was really just a girl

Who borrowed a dress and stole her mother's pearls

Behold, a Lady that just wants to be loved

So she goes to the parties and she pushes and shoves

Behold, a Lady that gets through a crowd

With both high heels on and her head held up proud

Behold, a Lady whose growing too fast

One day she'll be gone and leave behind her past

Behold, a Lady who made a mistake

The men never know so her innocence they take

Behold, a child, life ripped from her grasp

The one time she wished she had taken off her mask

Behold, a Lady, I saw her there,

Behold a Lady, she had no hair!

Behold a Lady, with soft white skin,

Behold a Lady, no brain within!

Behold a Lady, with coat of red,

Behold a Lady, is she dead?

Behold a Lady, a frame froze still,

Behold a Lady, she gives you chills!

Behold a Lady, with fixed smile,

Behold a Lady, she's gone no miles,

Behold a Lady, with pale gray eyes,

Behold a Lady, she'll tell no lies,

Behold a Lady, she is so strange!

Behold a Lady, she'll never change,

Behold a Lady, a thing of art,

Behold a Lady, she has no heart!

Behold a Lady, with figure full,

Behold a Lady, form made from wool.

Behold a Lady, hand without ring,

Behold a Lady, head full of strings.

Behold a Lady, so ghastly pale,

Behold a Lady, a face so stale,

Behold a Lady, a riddle yes,

Behold a Lady, I must impress!

Behold a Lady, I'm out of rhymes,

Behold a Lady, I'll use a lime,

Behold a Lady, two hundred, why?

Behold a Lady, you'll make me cry.

Behold a Lady, she never rests,

Behold a Lady, have you guessed?

Behold a Lady, form filled with pins.

Behold the Lady, a mannequin!

Behold, a Lady

Who shook the world to its core

Who left the people breathless for more

Who conquered all the land

Who held it all in her dainty hand

Behold, a Lady

Who needed not an army to conquer

Who didn't use violence as a disarmer

Who was as fierce as a lion, as gentle as a dove

Who attacked hatred effectively with love

Behold, a Lady

Who was lovely and petite

Who was fiery but uncommonly sweet

Who had a smile brighter than a 100 suns

Who, they say, was a lot of fun

Behold, a Lady

Who so loved to laugh

Who had a sharp wit all wished to have

Who could break the ice with just one line

Who in any situation would always shine

Behold, a Lady

Who had a wrath like no other

Who with her gaze rebellions she'd smother

Who silenced nations with just one glance

Who could destroy all evil if given the chance

Behold, a Lady

Who worked much harder than anyone

Who never stopped till the work was done

Who toiled next to the poorest of people

Who saw them all as her equals

Behold, a Lady

Who was intelligent, wise, and just

Who filled her people with the warmth of trust

Who was kind and good-hearted

Who filled her people with the fire she started

Behold a lady, a beautiful lady,

The most beautiful lady of all,

She dances around,

Her room in her crown,

Preparing to go to the ball.

There she'll meet a handsome prince,

Or maybe a white knight,

To take her hand her hand,

And spin her around,

Lighting her world so bright.

Oh, behold a lady, a most beautiful lady,

Surely looking her best,

She thinks with a grin,

As he kisses her hand,

That she's definitely passed the test.

They laugh and they talk,

And he gets her a drink,

And he rarely leaves her sight,

This, she thinks as she sips her drink,

This must surely be right.

Oh, behold a lady, such a beautiful lady,

All dressed up in white,

There's a man at her side, with a grin so wide,

Truly a perfect night.

The band plays a lovely tune,

And once again she swoons,

As her love takes her hand, they dance again,

And she never wants it to end.

Behold a lady, a beautiful lady,

The most beautiful lady of all,

She lay there asleep,

In a blanket so pink,

While her father stands by with a smile,

He holds his wife, so close to his side,

So happy to be with his child.

The woman laughs at his grin and takes his hand,

And drags him into a dance,

Once more, she thinks, twirling in place,

That this will never end.

Then, it begins again.

"Behold, a Lady, whose hair is long and curled, whose face is powdered, and who is completely unrecognizable." He trys to contain his laughter with a snort as he examines me.

"I'm sure Lord whats-his-face will really jump at the opportunity to seperate and corner you like an unfortuante cow.

I look sideways at my brother.

"I'm overjoyed that you think cow is a suitable description. And I think that was the point. At least that was Mother's intentions for me." I frown at Aaden. 

"Personally, I'm not very fond of Lord whats-his-face."

"To be fair, you aren't very fond of anyone." 

"Maybe. Perhaps I just don't feel very agreeable towards nonsensical idiots who stumble on their words and prefer unintelligent hobbies such as gambling to ones that boost their intelligence rather than their ego."

Aaden's ocean eyes glimmer with amusement.

"I can't wait to see the tortured expression on your face tonight. A book in one hand and a glass of whisky in the other." His smile makes my room even brighter, and I want to wipe the dimples off of his face, instead I can't help but smile back at him. I know that he would be there to save me from Lord Nixxam should the need arise. Unlike my mother, who would prefer to get me out of the house sooner rather than later, even if it was a pig of a man who got the deed done.

"You know that Mother would never allow whisky to me."

"Then you'll just have to get drunk off of the champagne before his lovely voice reaches your ears."

Behold, a Lady!

So bold and fearless

No one dares fight her

For in fear, for in intimidation, they will lose

Behold, a Lady!

Dark brown hair - too disheveled to attract men

Pale, ebony lips - too cracked to kiss

Eyes that match her hair - too focused on exploring to focus on her unworthy suitors

Marks on her body - scars from her many battles

Vertical lines on her cheeks - the tears of a warrior

Behold, a Lady!

So strong and independent

An admirable leader

Even with her flaws, she is amazing and beautiful

Behold, a Lady!

Battling conflicts - internal, external

Standing up for justice

Fighting selflessly for righteousness

All the little girls wish to be like her someday

Behold, a Lady!

So optimistic and happy

You'll never see her missing that smile of victory

Her sword is as sharp as her wit

Never disappointing a single soul

Her armor is as strong as she

Defeating evil day by day

Behold, a Lady!

Mighty is she

Great as can be

The elders can tell that she will lead

And become a legend - her dream

Because her biggest fear is failure and oblivion

All she wants is to save her people

Too weak and feeble to fight for themselves

Behold, a Lady!

The greatest warrior of them all

Higher than all the men

Still had a wonderful life without them

Though she is gone today

Her life will never fade away