beshelach

Barak was warned he'd win no glory here
this week, the women get the credit due
commemorated twice, in prose, then shir
twin heroines in arms to every Jew
humiliated, Sisera must beg
a drink of water at a Kenite's tent
Yael gave him first milk, then a tent-peg
and waived the customary one night's rent
his mother waits, the daylight's growing dim
pathetic coda to the Sturm und Drang
there'll be no joyous homecoming for him
but Israelites will dance the whole night long
her hospitality won Yael fame
Devorah's half-forgotten, save in name