19th Century: Body's Beauty

Dante Gabriel Rossetti is a bit of a fan boy for Lilith, all things considered. Not only did he paint the painting “Lady Lilith,” he also wrote several poems explicitly about her. The first one, “Body’s Beauty” was made to go with his “Lady Lilith” painting.

Body’s Beauty – Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Of Adam's first wife, Lilith, it is
told
(The witch he loved before the gift of
Eve,)
That, ere the snake's, her sweet tongue could
deceive,
And her enchanted hair was the first gold.
And still she sits,
young while the earth is old,
And, subtly of herself
contemplative,
Draws men to watch the bright web she can
weave,
Till heart and beauty and life are in its hold.

The rose
and poppy are her flowers; for where
Is he not found, O Lilith,
whom shed scent
And soft-shed kisses and soft sleep shall
snare?
Lo! as that youth's eyes burned at thine, so
went
Thy spell through him, and left his straight neck
bent
And round his heart one strangling golden hair.

Mythologically speaking, the origin works well with what we have from Ben Sira and earlier sources. However, it is a short mention, found only in the first two lines. We are told that she was Adam’s wife, who came before Eve. However, beyond that, much of the poem is speculation, focusing on the sensuality of Lilith, the fact that she is beautiful, and that she is eternally youthful. It is also worth pointing out that despite highlighting all of these aspects of Lilith, she is portrayed primarily as a negative, evil force, seducing men. This puts the poem on the same level as the Talmud passages that describe her long hair and depict her as a malevolent force.