I wish I were Tamar
Who kept her pledge
And cast her net
wider than Yehuda’s,
whether he liked it or not
Who are you, Tamar?
“A lethal woman,
methinks”,Yehuda’s
delusory prejudice.
Beware the fatherless
widow’s oppression.
Disgrace.
I know who you are,
whether you like it or not

-Who are you, veiled
woman?
– Don’t you know?
For money, but a kid
shall do, you may know
me better. No kid, no mo-
ney? I bet you can pledge
thy seal, cord and staff,
whether you like it or not
-Who do you think
you are, Tamar?
You show, my girl
A harlot methinks,
and only fire may pur-
ify thy offense. Pray,
Who’s the father?
-The Man who pledged
this seal, cord and staff,
Whether he liked it or not
-Whether you like it or not,
You are more in the right
than I, Tamar: I did not give
you to my son Shelah.
Who am I?
I am Tamar, a woman of
valor who, to establish seed,
no shame, no scruple
may stop at hollow men,
made him swallow
hook, line and sinker,
so his sons
find their way home
and fulfill his pledge
Amen
Happy Heuristics
Image credits
http://www.rogallery.com/Chagall_Marc/Book-Lithos/Drawings_Bible/chagall-tamar.html