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Debacle
* Bringing this gem back in the hope Becca Teagan sees it and returns. We wrote this together, a labor of love. The poem ends with a moral lesson that humanity still hasn't learned, sadly.
In Salem town a crime occurred
that rendered justice obsolete.
'Twas Mather's hail that rang God’s bell
and gathered priests with sins deferred-
for some it tolled a grim death knell.
Those holy men with garb so neat,
who placed themselves on judgment’s seat
and prayed for wisdom from above
held in their hearts no brother-love.
"What strange and eerie things, do tell-
hast Satan left the realms of hell
to visit evil on this place,
to cast his spell on each lamb's face,
to haunt and spit on God's good grace?"
The battle thus became engaged
for pious hearts were filled with rage
as weary souls who feared their wrath
now prayed that God would help them through-
yea, had they left the holy path
was now the issue on review.
‘Twas sixteen hundred ninety-two
when fear and trepidation poured
throughout this small community
and seized the hearts of all who knew
no earthly cause could this thing be.
Each child afflicted to her core,
first two, then spreading on to more-
their bodies writhing, uncontrolled,
convulsive seizures taking hold
and screaming out such blasphemy-
a most abnormal malady.
Hysteria would thus ensue
as horrid accusations flew-
“Were demons dwelling in these few?
Is witchcraft here to take control,
to seize and torment children's souls,
to cast a shadow 'pon our town?"
And thus accused of things so vile
these pilgrim's lives flipped upside down-
arrests were made and brought to trial.
And so began the brouhaha
as necks were placed in twists of rope.
Familiars hid in corner nooks
inspiring servant Tituba
who spun dark tales from hoodoo books.
Thus chaos reigned in place of hope-
bereaved men tried their best to cope
as mothers who had birthed their young
were now condemned by twisted tongues.
Unanswered prayers sent through the sky
left average townsfolk asking - Why?
Yea, one by one those witches fell,
the ones who’d cast their evil spell,
presumably sent straight to hell
as farmers plowed upon their fields
and harvested their bounty yields.
The holy men who’d gorged on blood
thus satisfied would end the fight-
corruption swept away by good,
they’d conquered evil in His might.
Or had the evil conquered them?
Manipulated, some gave in
to Satan’s underhanded ploy
to use the mayhem to condemn
with accusations to destroy.
Was vengeance perpetrated then
by holy or immoral men?
For in the aftermath some felt
remorse as guilt was surely dealt
to those who’d caused their brethren pain-
each vowed they’d never fail again.
And so the question left for thee
is who was snared and who was free
from Satan’s sly conspiracy?
Yea, as we peer deep in our hearts
can we not see each played a part?
The moral’s here for all to see-
‘twas not about mere happenstance
but in the mob's mentality...
misguided zeal breeds ignorance
Copyright ©
Tom Woody
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