Page 146 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

flowers and birds and blossoms, beckoning her to come with him. Using language spoken often in the
past, he calls her a dove. She is dove-like in her character, gentle and unable to harm him. He is worried
however. Like a fox, temptation can ruin the best kept garden. She cannot go with him or respond in a
way he can hear, but she comments to herself and those around her. He browses (shepherds) among the
lilies. She is confident of his faithfulness even though they must be apart until this shadow is lifted.

A troubling dream (3:1-5): The woman is tossing and turning after the visit of her beloved. In her dream
she looks for him, searching the city streets. She interacts with the watchmen on the city walls. Quickly
she finds him and embraces him. In the typical fogginess of dreams, she takes him to a safe place, the
home in which she grew up. In the morning she again warns the harem women not to push her into a
love she does not want.

A kingly approach (3:6-10): The king has been gone but now returns to take up his attempts at
seduction. He is escorted by a retinue of sixty warriors quite able to protect him against all threats.
Solomon is riding in a tailor-made carriage. It is constructed of special wood, silver and gold, and
upholstery. Many translations suggest an alternative reading that would highlight Solomon’s sexual
prowess, “its interior lovingly inlaid by the daughters of Jerusalem.” The harem attendants call to the
woman to watch this marvelous parade. She may be giving her own thoughts as she notices the crown
he is wearing, a crown symbolizing his previous marriage to another woman.

A kingly seduction attempt (4:1-7): Compliments, compliments, compliments are the king’s tools. He
speaks of her eyes, hair, teeth, lips, temples, neck, and breasts. His compliments are inaccurate,
however. Some are spoken without understanding her country setting. Hair like a flock of goats and
teeth like a flock of sheep do not praise. Eyes like doves, fawns browsing among the lilies, and the
intention to go to the mountain of myrrh also sound misplaced. Have the harem women fed Solomon
some favorite images the woman has used in their presence. A neck like a tower of David hung with a
thousand shields gives a picture of a woman with head held high resisting all advances.

A second visit (4:8-5:1): The shepherd is back on the scene calling to the woman. He identifies the
location as Lebanon and views it as a place of great danger. He reminds her that she has stolen his heart,
and he is completely committed to her. He calls her his sister bride repeatedly, emphasizing not only his
romantic attachment to her but also his careful covenant love. He complements her but in an entirely
different way than the king. Yes, he too speaks of lips and tongue, but his description is not so narrowly
focused. She is a garden. In her character she is like an orchard of choice fruits and spices. Her spirituality
is compared to a spring of living water. He cannot come to her or, apparently, hear her, so she calls to the
wind to take the fragrance of her faithful character to her beloved. His last words celebrate the
relationship they have had in the past. He has thoroughly enjoyed this garden wife. The narrator, or God,
speaks the final words in this section, encouraging these two to eat and drink their fill of this kind of
love. He approves greatly.

A second dream (5:2-8): The situation is getting tenser as can be seen by a second dream. The woman
hears her beloved knocking and calling to her. In her dream she is reluctant because ready for bed. He
tries to open the door, and she goes to welcome him into her room. He has gone, and she searches for
him. Again, she approaches the watchmen in the city, but this time they beat her and take away her
outer cloak. She wakens and speaks to the harem women, asking them to join her side and carry a
message of love to her shepherd.

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