Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A SALEM WITCH, by EDNAH PROCTOR CLARKE HAYES


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A SALEM WITCH, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The wind blows east, the wind blows west
Last Line: He died for thee! -- he died for me!
Subject(s): Salem, Massachusetts; Witchcraft & Witches


THE wind blows east, -- the wind blows west, --
It blows upon the gallows tree:
Oh, little babe beneath my breast,
He died for thee! -- he died for me!

The judges came, -- the children came
(Some mother's heart o'er each had yearned),
They set their black lies on my name: --
"A God-accursed witch who learned

"Each night (they said) the Devil's art,
Through Salem wood by devils drawn." --
I, whose heart beat against his heart
From dark till dawn! -- from dark till dawn!

He faced them in his fearless scorn
(The sun was on him as he stood):
"No purer is her babe unborn;
I prove her sinless with my blood."

They spared the babe beneath my breast, --
They bound his hands, -- they set me free, --
Hush, hush, my babe! hush, hush and rest;
He died for thee! -- he died for me!

They dragged him, bound, to Gallows Hill
(I saw the flowers among the grass);
The women came, -- I hear them still, --
They held their babes to see him pass.

God curse them! -- Nay, -- Oh God forgive!
He said it while their lips reviled;
He kissed my lips, -- he whispered: "Live!
The father loves thee in the child."

Then earth and sky grew black, -- I fell --
I lay as stone beside their stone.
They did their work. They earned their Hell.
I woke on Gallows Hill, alone.

Oh Christ who suffered, Christ who blessed
Shield him upon the gallows tree!
O babe, his babe, beneath my breast,
He died for thee! -- he died for me!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net