Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales
—Illustrations Courtesy of Public Domain
Today’s poems are on the theme of “Thinking Female”:
TO BE A WITCH IN SCOTLAND
Scotland was not the place to be a witch,
it really wasn’t.
There were more than four thousand witch trials
in Scotland
putting Salem to shame,
the Witch-Finders boasted.
One would suppose that
wise women did not become witches,
but it seems,
many did
and paid a hot and heavy price.
So not many would be dancing
to celebrate Hogmanay
Even in spirit
few would rise
for the occasion,
not even the white witches.
But there will always be some,
some women
brave enough
to celebrate.
TO BE A WITCH IN SCOTLAND
Scotland was not the place to be a witch,
it really wasn’t.
There were more than four thousand witch trials
in Scotland
putting Salem to shame,
the Witch-Finders boasted.
One would suppose that
wise women did not become witches,
but it seems,
many did
and paid a hot and heavy price.
So not many would be dancing
to celebrate Hogmanay
Even in spirit
few would rise
for the occasion,
not even the white witches.
But there will always be some,
some women
brave enough
to celebrate.
(First published in Bonnie Wee Zine, Coin-
Operated Press, September 2023)
GHOULS
Is it ghoulish
to think
that life
is more
than a small collection of cells
in a uterus.
Is it ghoulish
to think
that
the life of the mother
and the spillage
of her blood
count for less
than the small collection of cells
in her uterus
that are unable to bleed.
Is it ghoulish
to think
that infant life
needs love
as it grows
and support networks
and things that cost
society
dear
through life
if it does not supply them.
Is it ghoulish
to ask
how
the highest court
in the land
was taken over
by ghouls.
(First published in New Verse News, 5/11/22)
Is it ghoulish
to think
that life
is more
than a small collection of cells
in a uterus.
Is it ghoulish
to think
that
the life of the mother
and the spillage
of her blood
count for less
than the small collection of cells
in her uterus
that are unable to bleed.
Is it ghoulish
to think
that infant life
needs love
as it grows
and support networks
and things that cost
society
dear
through life
if it does not supply them.
Is it ghoulish
to ask
how
the highest court
in the land
was taken over
by ghouls.
(First published in New Verse News, 5/11/22)
BIRTH OR DEATH
Death begins at birth
for pro-lifers.
The birth day
is
when
interest
is lost
lost
in those post-foetal
post-natal
moments
which move us
crying
into hours
smiling
into days
crawling
into months
running
into years
walking
into decades
slowing
toward
our death day.
They’ve long
lost interest
these pro-lifers.
They say that life
must be lived
according to
the law of God
as it is written
and dispatched
to them
in nightmares
and dreams.
Only break it
and
they’re back
with interest
and concern
those pro-deathers.
(First published in New Verse News, May 2019)
AFTER BREAKFAST
Smoking was forbidden
especially at the breakfast table.
She knew it was against all the house rules,
knew it was time for her to tidy up the debris
on the table.
Her parents taught her well.
She listened.
She heard them.
She thinks of them now
as she sits and smokes
after breakfast.
(First published in Gorko Gazette, 10/1/22)
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
I’ve always been somewhat vain
always creamed and combed,
groomed and preened
and wanted to look my best,
not a hair out of place.
Is such vanity sinful?
Maybe it is.
But vanity was not my crime.
My crime was committed
on the day the hair
escaped.
Just one hair
out
of place.
But they saw it.
That was the crime
I died for.
(First published in Live Wire, Spring 2024)
____________________
Today’s LittleNip:
The age of a woman doesn’t mean a thing. The best tunes are played on the oldest fiddles.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
____________________
—Medusa, with thanks to Lynn White for today’s fine poetry!
Medusa’s Beauty Routine
A reminder that
Sac. Poetry Center’s
47-year celebration
Sac. Poetry Center’s
47-year celebration
scheduled for today
has been postponed;
MoSt’s Poetry Book Club
meets today in Modesto, 10am;
Beast Crawl happens today in
Oakland starting at 3:30pm.
For info about these and other
future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
has been postponed;
MoSt’s Poetry Book Club
meets today in Modesto, 10am;
Beast Crawl happens today in
Oakland starting at 3:30pm.
For info about these and other
future poetry happenings in
Northern California and otherwheres,
click on
UPCOMING NORCAL EVENTS
(http://medusaskitchen.blogspot.com/p/wtf.html)
in the links at the top of this page—
and keep an eye on this link and on
the daily Kitchen for happenings
that might pop up
—or get changed!—
during the week.
Photos in this column can be enlarged by
clicking on them once, then clicking on the x
in the top right corner to come back to Medusa.
Find previous four-or-so posts by scrolling down
under today; or there's an "Older Posts" button
at the bottom of this column; or find previous poets
by typing the name of the poet or poem
into the little beige box at the top
left-hand side of today’s post; or go to
Medusa’s Rapsheet at the bottom of
the blue column at the right
to find the date you want.
Would you like to be a SnakePal?
Guidelines are at the top of this page
at the Placating the Gorgon link;
send poetry and/or photos and artwork
to kathykieth@hotmail.com. We post
work from all over the world—including
that which was previously published—
and collaborations are welcome.
Just remember:
the snakes of Medusa are always hungry—
for poetry, of course!
