Dead Woman's Ditch

Young Johnny Walford was a handsome man He possessed a keen intelligent mind Yet the life he desperately desired In the end poor Johnny would never find Lack of education, coal dusted hands His heart was set on the Miller's daughter Sadly one night he strayed with Jane Shorney Made his life into the stuff of fodder He was forced to marry against his will Jane Shorney was now carrying his child He could not bare the thought of forever Her screeching voice, made him insanely wild It was but three weeks into his marriage Our young Johnny couldn't take anymore He clubbed her on the head and slit her throat This was more than they had both bargained for He took her body, threw it in a ditch Then he tried to cover it with dirt In her hand she clutched a piece of fabric She had foresight to hold onto his shirt Her body found there with a hue and a cry Johnny was dragged in chains through the streets Hanged on the gibbet for passers by It is said that a year later they would meet She haunts both ditch and gibbet to this day Her banshee voice screeches berating him Poor Johnny would prefer to be in heel Her words feel like being torn limb from limb A Shadowlam production. Great topic for a poem Shadow thanks for inviting me to write this one with you.