A New Portrait of Judith of Bethulia

by Robert Graves (1923) — a poem card from Justes Mots

A reimagining of the biblical Judith, portraying her assassination of the Assyrian general Holofernes as an act rooted in personal dignity rather than religious or nationalist zeal. Graves subverts the heroic narrative, suggesting Holofernes' shame stems not from defeat in battle but from being killed by a woman he underestimated. The poem explores themes of power, gender, and the hidden motives behind legendary acts of heroism.

She trod the grasses grey with dew,
She hugged the unlikely head;
Avenging where the warrior Jew
Incontinent had fled.

The bearded lips writhed ever more
At this increase of shame—
Killed by a girl, pretending whore,…

Themes: encouragement · graduation · new-chapter · recovery