A Witches Tale

My heart yearns for the truth from the witches burned

The knowledge they held that put such fear into ordinary men,

Fear that burned so hot they felt they had to make an example of such a woman

I want to hear the scientific breakthroughs and of all the people they healed, instead of hurt

The babies born that would have died due to their knowledge and herbal remedies.

Mothers comforted with tonics and tinctures to take pain away

Mothers that would be forever grateful but condemn them in the same breath

I want an accurate telling of their stories

You see the “history” told of them is most likely more fiction than fact

It was written down by unreliable narrators with hate in their hearts and pitchforks in their hands

For these women were burned and drowned not for being witches

But for being more than something you could control

For loving nature instead of a singular god.

I wish I knew their stories

But I know their hearts

For my ancestor was one of them

And I inherited her fire