***
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Left all alone, accused of her crimes,
Our hero defends, citing past violent times.
Violence in marriage that brought last resort;
Her pain and her desperate, her only retort.
‘I could no longer stand,
‘Neath the weight of that man;
Could no longer face
My reflection, disgrace.’
‘You stand accused
Of a lover abused.
Vile violent succubus –
Death! Don’t make a fuss.’
‘When pushed to my limit,
Could not let him dim it;
My spirit and form,
Brewed revenge in a storm.’
‘You taint the sacred act of marriage,
So you’ll be loaded into this carriage;
A wagon to take you where you belong,
And hang you in bonds that hate has made strong.’
Stolen away as she’s taken to doom,
Resentful, our hero, curses her groom;
Punishments nightly to purify, curtail,
Her power was naught, cursed once born as female.
‘Bind my neck as hard you like,
In the afterlife I will strike.
I will return for all your sons –
Till each one’s dead I won’t be done.’
‘Harlot! Witch!
Seductress and bitch!
We’ll hang you here till your last breath,
Then cackle with glee as we witness death.’
‘You will never see me quiver;
Falter or fall, only strength I deliver:
Summon rage upon this stage,
To show you all I’m in no cage!’
‘Dear gods! Her eyes!
They’ve cracked the skies!
Blood rains, red torrent;
Flee! She’s abhorrent.’
As villagers fled under a downpour of red,
The bonds holding hero become loosened, unwed;
To fall to the ground with victorious sound –
Revenge in flesh what she seeks, but more than a pound.
***
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C H Mackie 