How Did Vashti Stand Her Ground?

This poem speculates about and elaborates on an incident in the Purim story, from the Jewish holiday of the same name.

How did Vashti stand her ground

when the king's chamberlains

kept coming around

saying, "Come come Vashti,

bring your crown."

How did Vashti stand her ground

and restand her ground?

Vashti said, No

she didn't want to go

she was busy

and she told them so.

And the women  with whom she was busy

their senses of humor

could make a person dizzy.

They were already gathered around

and they helped Vashti stand her ground

and restand her ground

when the chamberlains repeatedly came around

saying, "Come come Vashti and bring your crown."

The women in the harem

made of the chamberlains

one funny thwarted clown

with puns in various tongues

word plays upon  their names

retortive joking and distractive games.

In keeping with the character of the Purim play

Vashti's friends in the harem

joked that scene away

amidst this laughter which bolstered her

was Vashti able to stand her ground

when those foolish chamberlains kept coming around.

Do you have a different theory?

Are my details too far fetched?

Vashti was a feminist among feminists

strong and witty with zest and jests

Vashti was a feminist among feminists.

Vashti said No she didn't want to go

she was busy and she told them so

and the women with whom she was busy

their combined humor made the chamberlains dizzy.

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Poor Chaimberlains! She didn't half lead them on a merry dance. Love the repitition in this as it gave it a significance emphasising the stoic nature of this character's reluctance to give in easily. Me too in legend!