From John Johnson To Guy Fawkes

T’will be his death of this he's sure
But for this sin there is no cure
All John did was to stand on guard
Now his family name forever marred.

As a child trained in the Protestant faith
Too late he had now seen his wraith
Converted to Catholicism and fervent too
Knowing never more to see morning dew

He trembled, weak and so close to death 
Afraid now to take his known last breath
His bowels loose his spirit lost
Forehead bowed, fingers crossed.

He could almost feel the horse and rope
But knowing he now had no hope
Confessed he did as Guido Fawkes
These step were to be the last he walks

His genitals cut and then to be roasted
Bowels and heart, next  to be toasted
‘John’ then ‘Guido’ now known as Guy
Did not want this way to die

Through accident or was it his plan
He climbed the ladder with his hangman
Did he jump or was it a mistake
As he fell and his own neck did break

The legacy for this man Guy
An effigy to be strung up high
Set on fire every November fifth
With explosive fireworks lit forthwith

No child he left to bear his name
But Guy Fawkes still hangs onto fame
To blow King James of Scotland high
For this act of treason thirteen did die 
© GG 3/12/2013

Contest Entry: Happy Holiday

Wraith …own ghost.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013



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Date: 12/13/2013 5:13:00 PM
It was interesting to read this poem and learn the history of a holiday from another culture. Really great work, Mandy! Congratulations on your win!...Thank you very much for the kind congrats on my poem!
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Date: 12/12/2013 7:01:00 PM
Wow Goldie those brit's are tough! Good history lesson and thanks for writing about it! Congrad's on your win!
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Date: 12/12/2013 1:33:00 PM
Very nice. I love the story behind Guy Fawkes' day and your poem does a very nice job of shining the light on the lesser known John Johnson. Well done. Gary
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Date: 12/12/2013 5:30:00 AM
nice win....pd
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Date: 12/11/2013 11:18:00 PM
Congrats on the win, mandy
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Date: 12/8/2013 8:19:00 PM
Hey Mandy...I don't know anything of this story but really enjoyed learning of it through your poem..yikes..genitals cut and roasted..bowels and heart toasted...did they make a movie about this guy?
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Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
Mandy Tams The Golden Girl
Date: 12/10/2013 2:41:00 AM
You know Donna I am not sure about that . thanks for commmenting love xx
Date: 12/4/2013 4:42:00 PM
Hi Mandy love this poem,and also I can add a little, as a young lad I lived for a year in a small village near Otley here in Yorkshire, called Farnley, where decendents of the Fawkes family still reside to this very day, this small hamlet, having two well known residents, one famous in Chippendale, and the other infamous in Guy Fawkes.....back to your poem again, knowledgable in your subject, and as usual what you write wonderful to read.......
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Mandy Tams The Golden Girl
Date: 12/5/2013 3:15:00 AM
Hi there harry, my brother -in -law is a Fawkes and can trace his family back to that family and to a witch that was burned lol xx
Date: 12/4/2013 2:42:00 PM
wonderful write here, my friend. I used to think he was called Guy Fox as a boy. Hope you're feeling much better now x
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Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
Mandy Tams The Golden Girl
Date: 12/5/2013 3:14:00 AM
ha I used to think they sun silent night to John Virgiss.... yes feeling better thanks Jack, hope you are well xx
Date: 12/3/2013 8:31:00 PM
Enjoyed the poem and some more details on Guy. I wasn't familiar with John Johnson.
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Tams The Golden Girl Avatar
Mandy Tams The Golden Girl
Date: 12/5/2013 3:13:00 AM
Hi there and thanks David he went from John to Guido(Italian for Guy) to Guy xx
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