The Peterloo Massacre

The people marched to St. Peter’s Field

On a fair and a sunny day,

They’d gone to listen to Henry Hunt

A radical, in his way,

For Manchester was a ruin then,

The people could beg or starve,

For the looms were sitting in silence there

With the wages more than halved.

 

The government passed the Corn Laws

To protect the growers at home,

But the British corn was inferior,

And the price quite overblown,

The people, faced with a famine sought

To reform the parliament,

A million folk in Manchester,

With just two to represent.

 

And only a hundred and fifty were

Electors, here I quote,

Not like the rotten boroughs that

Survived on a single vote,

The people marched on St. Peter’s Field

While the government sent Hussars,

Fearing the spread of dissidence,

After Napoleon’s wars.

 

The police were there and the yeomanry

As they came from near and far,

And William Hulton, magistrate,

The head of the Northern Bar,

His name was writ on a plaque of blood

In the nether depths of hell,

When he signed the letters to start the charge

On a people that just meant well.

 

There was no honour or glory there

But a cry of endless shame,

When Lieutenant Colonel Guy L’Estrange

Blackened his soldiers name,

For the horses trampled the people

And the sabres flashed in the air,

While many a woman was trampled to death

By the horses hooves out there.

 

Margaret Downes was sabred, Mary

Heys was trampled and crushed,

William Bradshaw shot in the head,

They died, it was so unjust,

Martha Partington died on the spot,

Thrown into a cellar, she died,

While sabred and stabbed with a bayonet,

Tom Buckley, and others beside.

 

Fifteen died on that infamous day,

And seven hundred were hurt,

Henry Hunt was arrested, jailed,

And others were dragged in the dirt,

Napoleon suffered at Waterloo

But the English have suffered too,

It’s writ in the annals of infamy

As the massacre, ‘Peterloo!’

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[A love for poetry]

I love anything that reminds us of injustices through out the world, and a poem is a great way to catch the attention of the reader, to let them know. I don't know any of this history; so it was easy for me to loose my concentration of it all, I did notice about half way through the change of rhythm; but the numbers of dead and injured left a graphic picture in my mind.

[David Scott]

A nice way to learn history. Ha. I did want some kind of twist at the end, but the flat affect gave some somber feel to the piece. It was after all a massacre.
Nice read.
Be well
David

[Patricia B. Hepler]

I could feel the tension, hear the fighting and smell the blood.. Anther excellent poem, David. Very much enjoyed! ~pat

[MOON]

Poignant write about the Massacre as usual your writing informative and told with such style.

[eatmills]

Nice factual poem (Yes I looked it up), well written and eye opening. Thanks for the share.

[Valentine]

David..is this one based on something that happened in England long ago or is it fiction..We are in a drought and the congress voted to go home rather thatn pass the farm bill so the farmers..16,000,000 million who need help for feed for their animals and money so they vcan get ready to begin again next spring..Some things just are not fair are they..Love you tales..I cannot tell which ones are true and which are not..love to Lyn and you..Kathie

[Emerald Seas]

Wonderful writing with such a historical account woven within.
David, your style is so easily recognized - and you manage to post poems at a record pace. I am beginning to think your mind works at everything in this unique style and that is the secret to your success and offering so much to share with all of your eager readers!
Well done, my dear!

[Tate Morgan]

I cant believe I know nothing about this.However it is written with the usual style and ability I have come to expect from you

[Marie]

This is a part of history I didn't know, and I am glad to have learned something.