How Afraid To Be A Woman Were You?

by Kristin Garth

 

From two villages in Trier where hundreds dis-

appeared in en masse burnings at the stake,

1588, a coincidence 

two survive, female, holy flames forsake?

Innocent enough to reproduce — an 

essential use? Or were you younger than 

the rest, with little to confess?  No hand 

could torture to a lie?  Orphaned, broken 

and unafraid to die? Did you remain 

or runaway afraid of different outcomes 

another day in an archbishop’s domain

who culled the Protestant, Jew, witch among 

women in two villages, left you two?

How afraid to be a woman were you?

 

image from Pixabay

Author’s Note:  

During the Trier Witch Trials in Germany in 1588, instigated by the Archbishop von Schonenberg to cull Protestants, Jews and witches from the population, there were two villages where only two females were not burned.  Yet some historians argue with the issue of gender motivations of these burnings. 

Kristin Garth is a Pushcart, Best of the Net & Rhysling nominated sonnet stalker. Her sonnets have stalked journals like Glass, Yes, Five:2:One, Luna Luna and more. She is the author of fourteen books of poetry including Pink Plastic House (Maverick Duck Press), Candy Cigarette Womanchild Noir (The Hedgehog Poetry Press), Flutter: Southern Gothic Fever Dream (TwistiT Press), The Meadow (APEP Publications) and Shut Your Eyes, Succubi (Maverick Duck). Follow her on Twitter:  (@lolaandjolie) and her website http://kristingarth.com