 | A Salem Witch |  |
A Salem Witch [August 19, 1692]
The wind blows east,—the wind blows west,—
It blows upon the gallows tree:
Oh, little babe beneath my breast,
He died for thee!—he died for me!
It blows upon the gallows tree:
Oh, little babe beneath my breast,
He died for thee!—he died for me!
The judges came,—the children came
(Some mother’s heart o’er each had yearned),
They set their black lies on my name:—
“A God-accursed witch who learned
(Some mother’s heart o’er each had yearned),
They set their black lies on my name:—
“A God-accursed witch who learned
“Each night (they said) the Devil’s art,
Through Salem wood by devils drawn.”—
I, whose heart beat against his heart
From dark till dawn!—from dark till dawn!
Through Salem wood by devils drawn.”—
I, whose heart beat against his heart
From dark till dawn!—from dark till dawn!
He faced them in his fearless scorn
(The sun was on him as he stood):
“No purer babe unborn
I prove her sinless with my blood.”
(The sun was on him as he stood):
“No purer babe unborn
I prove her sinless with my blood.”
They spared the babe beneath my breast,—
They bound his hands,—they set me free,—
Hush, hush, my babe! hush, hush, and rest;
He died for thee!—he died for me!
They bound his hands,—they set me free,—
Hush, hush, my babe! hush, hush, and rest;
He died for thee!—he died for me!
They dragged him, bound, to Gallows Hill
(I saw the flowers among the grass);
The women came,—I hear them still,—
They held their babes to see him pass.
(I saw the flowers among the grass);
The women came,—I hear them still,—
They held their babes to see him pass.
God curse them!—Nay,—Oh God forgive!
He said it while their lips reviled:
He kissed my lips,—he whispered: ”Live!
The father loves thee in the child.”
He said it while their lips reviled:
He kissed my lips,—he whispered: ”Live!
The father loves thee in the child.”
Then earth and sky grew black,—I fell—
I lay as stone beside their stone
They did their work. They earned their Hell.
I woke on Gallows Hill, alone.
I lay as stone beside their stone
They did their work. They earned their Hell.
I woke on Gallows Hill, alone.
Oh Christ who suffered, Christ who blessed,
Shield him upon the gallows tree!
O babe, his babe, beneath my breast,
He died for thee!—he died for me!
Shield him upon the gallows tree!
O babe, his babe, beneath my breast,
He died for thee!—he died for me!
Ednah Proctor Clarke
| A Salem Witch | |