deepundergroundpoetry.com
Portrait of a Witch
for Ann, an Essex witch
Austere yet sensual,
Bible-black and virgin white
mixed in the same cauldron. Eventual,
as death and taxation and lust, alight
with flames at dance
among the gathered coals,
her lace, her chance
at Satan’s democratic goals,
winning the choice of souls.
She sits in a leather armchair
before a wall of books.
Her languid and unblinking stare
creates desire in eunuchs, and looks
at God’s domain with eyes like fishing hooks.
Austere yet sensual,
Bible-black and virgin white
mixed in the same cauldron. Eventual,
as death and taxation and lust, alight
with flames at dance
among the gathered coals,
her lace, her chance
at Satan’s democratic goals,
winning the choice of souls.
She sits in a leather armchair
before a wall of books.
Her languid and unblinking stare
creates desire in eunuchs, and looks
at God’s domain with eyes like fishing hooks.
Published 16th Dec 2020
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The author encourages honest critique.
16th Dec 2020 10:09pm
I did a huge series on witches a couple of years ago and Ann was actually a part of that research. Bible-black and virgin-white is a great contrast of imagery.
I don't feel 'Eventual' makes for a good enjambment, and you could lose the first 'and' in L4 by inserting a comma.
The fishing hook metaphor is absolutely fantastic.
Overall it's a good poem with some killer imagery; however, I do feel you can tighten up the form with a bit of revision.
I don't feel 'Eventual' makes for a good enjambment, and you could lose the first 'and' in L4 by inserting a comma.
The fishing hook metaphor is absolutely fantastic.
Overall it's a good poem with some killer imagery; however, I do feel you can tighten up the form with a bit of revision.
16th Dec 2020 10:15pm
Thank you for your kind and helpful critique! The dedication is not to a historical person, just a personal friend of mine whose fashion sense inspired this poem, but now I’m intrigued to read about the real Ann...
16th Dec 2020 11:15pm
This poem could have some bewitching romance twist to it... With cliffhanger risk of sudden I don't know. I wish I could write my imagination is booming in creativity.
17th Dec 2020 6:09am
"A last reminder of Hopkins’ reign of terror was discovered in St. Osyth, Essex, in 1921. Two female skeletons were found in a garden, pinned into unmarked graves and with iron rivets driven through their joints. This was to make sure a witch could not return from the grave. Hopkins was responsible for over 300 executions."
This is the only thing I could find running a quick search. There's another article which names one of them Ann. Seemed the other was Elisabeth. I thought that's who you were referring to here ( given your love of history ). I'll try to find it, but I also used the library heavily for that series, so it may have been in a scholarly article.
This is the only thing I could find running a quick search. There's another article which names one of them Ann. Seemed the other was Elisabeth. I thought that's who you were referring to here ( given your love of history ). I'll try to find it, but I also used the library heavily for that series, so it may have been in a scholarly article.
19th Dec 2020 3:04am
I love the contrast of Bible black and virgin white. Nice use of rhyme as well. Rather subtly coquettish tribute. Well done.
19th Dec 2020 9:19pm
I'm glad that you mentioned ”coquettish”, that is a part of what I was going for.
