Condemned

You who decapitate flowers,
new in bloom,
still gay after torture,
brutalised, broken and bleeding,
pleading for a quick death,
hand out all the mercy
of Medieval witch hunters.

Drown in the ducking stool,
women were declared innocent,
should they survive
then burnt alive at the stake.

Some things don't change much
do they?

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

I'm not sure why but this makes me feel very sad to my marrow in such few lines of text. The mechanism of the need to spread furtherance in misery thru cruelty is an ever present cause in some. I often think it is born out of a pure selfishness to propagate the feelings of misery & sadness to others as they themselves feel. Recently a mass shooting occurred here this person quit his job and shot 12 people that were his coworkers and i'm still racking my brain trying to understand his motivation and reasoning. this write was very succinct and poignant.

[Chris Shaw]

Some people can inflict such cruelty and then relish the suffering they inflict on others with glee. We certainly live in a sick world today Bunny. Hope this write didn't make my Bunny friend too sad. Thank you for your visit.

Chris

[Zoe Richardson]

Wow. Someone isn't much for flower picking! Now every time I see a lovely bouquet I will think of bruised, broken, tortured women burning at the stake. Perhaps you should try perennials! I am sure this poem is meant to be symbolic, and I applaud the symbolism. For some reason, though, the first lines are the ones that stuck with me.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Zoe. The first lines are brutal. They have stuck with me too. This is such an old poem, Neville gave it an airing.

Chris

[Neville]

I am all for justice but believe me, I can not think of a time in history when everything was fair .. and not everything is how it so often seems .. even a few of those fair maidens were witches .. and sadly, you are write our Chris .. somethings never change .. I'm gonna go take up flower arranging .. Neville

ps .. an intriguing poem if ever there woz .. N

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Neville. This is brutal and rough justice too. I may pm you with a bit more . Such an old write but it was painful to put together.

Chris

[Neville]

blimey why not .. feel free, I am all ears. Neville

[Lydia Shutter]

Indeed, it often seems as though we are going backwards instead of making progress when it comes to women's rights. The world has gone crazy and I am not sure sanity will prevail ever again. A powerful write, my friend. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Lydi**. I appreciate both your thoughts and your visit. Have a good week-end.
read moreMany thanks Lydi**. I appreciate both your thoughts and your visit. Have a good week-end.

Chris

[Rye]

Wow! this is quite a write here, deep write really. Nicely written

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Ryanna for your visit.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

reminds me of being in Salem and driving past the witch house...they try to drown them, and if they float, they are witches, so either way, they lose...
today people are still just as judgmental and condemnation is rampant.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

That's it Jacob. Either way they lose. That justice still prevails today in some parts of our world. Hard to believe such barbarity takes place in modern times.

Chris

[gram linski]

Wow, that was a bit brutal for you, Chris, great sharp paced read, sounds like Christopher lee has been has been bugging you, (he was main man in film Witchfinder General,)

[Chris Shaw]

Yes it is brutal and deliberately so, after reading about atrocities taking place in other parts of the world. So many injustices, such cruelty.

Many thanks gram

Chris

[Dave]

Having two daughters I am so very much with you Chris. I'm not sure but I think the key is to get more women into strong political positions. Men, in politics, seem to be such a******s,, pardon the expression. Look at what just happened in several of our states on the abortion bans. I would love to see all those that voted for these defeated in the next election, along with our erstwhile president.

Take care - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave for your visit and sharing your thoughts. Good to see you.

Chris

[kitty]

Still the under dogs we strive for independence!

[Chris Shaw]

We are lucky kitty when you see what happens in other parts of the world. Thanks for your visit. Most appreciated.

Chris

[kitty]

U R welcome!

[Dr. YumnaKay]

I suppose the world has a long way to go before we really reach the point when women are considered 'humans' than an object. You're right though, some things just keep going the way they do and little is done to change it.
I like that you wrote on this topic. Powerful voice, indeed.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dr Y. I appreciate your visit and your thoughts. There is still far too much injustice and women in the main suffer, but so do gay men in some parts of the world.

Chris

[Ramé]

I actually adored the mirror image of the past reflected in present day very much in this. It is a really short piece, but holds a lot of wisdom and that is an art all in itself. The wound of women still runs very deep.

Thank you for sharing.

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for your visit and for sharing your thoughts. Very much appreciated.

Chris