Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod (nee Zelle) better known by her stage name Mata Hari (1876 – 1917), who was convicted by the French as a German spy during WW1. Historians have since demonstrated that she was betrayed by all, her lover, the French officers who recruited her, the justice system (an oxymoron if ever there was one), her fellow spies and others. She was convicted and executed even though there was no substantive evidence, other than that they said it was because as a woman she could not be trusted and she would use her wiles. She was indeed a victim, a scapegoat.
Dangerous Game
I was lost in your face,
your eyes sparkled
laughter like champagne.
You reeled me in,
my small talk generously indulged,
I thought one drink would cure my curiosity.
Besides, I had work to do,
family waiting.
But you had other plans,
your hand on mine
stroking.
Me all gibberish,
pulse racing,
I agreed.
Just how did you do that?
Furtive,
room 20,
you draped on the ottoman,
gold, bejewelled bra,
tiara.
Salome unveiled.
Beguiled, seduced,
I gave you my all.
My French for German,
secrets, unzipped,
pleasure washed over me
in waves of guilt.
Whispers exchanged,
I woke alone, betrayed.
Even so, for just one more touch,
I would trade anything.
©Paul Cannon
Paul,
pvcann.com
I have read the novel based on Matahari by Paulo Coelho. “The Spy”. Your poem has done justice to her character.
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Many thanks Megha, I haven’t read that one, another for my list.
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Haha now we can be book buddies too.
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Cool 🙂
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Loved this! You’ve so beautifully captured the essence!😍
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So much appreciate your reflection, thank you
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Very evocative. I quite enjoyed.
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Many thanks Jay-Lyn
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Most welcome. ☺
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Who wouldn’t! ☺️
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Indeed 🙂
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a really well composed poem that encapsulates her life. do we present to the world that we want them to see? no one really knew the real Mata Hari (her name means sun in my native language or “eyes of the day”, a little trivia!)
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Nice piece of trivia, thank you, and thank you for your kind reflection too.
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Mata Hari, I wonder if she was really a spy。。。
[Dangerous Game],Nice title! 😀
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Yes, lot of conjecture now. And thank you Nasuko.
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beautifully presented … men are always suspicious of women’s entrapment but it is their own lack of self control …. love your presentation!
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Yes, the eternal blame game.
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we need to accept responsibility for our own actions and inactions
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Yes, I’ve got enough for two lifetimes, and I don’t know how others find the time to get involved other people’s lives where they shouldn’t
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Reblogged this on DENIS LEVIEUX PHOTOGRAPHE INFOGRAPHISTE.
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Many thanks
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It’s good to see a poem for world’s one of the finest spy. Great writing
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Thanks
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I loved the poem! Her fate was really tragic. I am still halfway reading Paulo Coelho’s ”The Spy” which was based on her story.
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Yes, an injustice based on gender and power, awful, and it still goes on.
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So very true, Paul!
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Profound writing Paul.
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Very kind Rupali, many thanks
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