Firecrackered — you, be-
witched, was burned before
you burst in bloom.
Doomed a demon — you be-
nign; an angel asked
to leave, be-
lieved to be obsessed.
You a woman
cursed by coward men.
Madonna by Edvard Munch
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February 4, 2018
Running in the slow lane
The view from here ... Or here!
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” — Albert Einstein
chronicling my quarter life crisis
Now we see through a glass, darkly
rejuvenatement - not retirement
words and scribble.
The Quantumverse
Poetry, haiku. Life, word play, puns, free verse
About fantastical places and other stuff
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Oh, what wonderful line breaks! I love the one that tells us she’s only nine years old. Witch stories (and poems, etc.) fascinate me. Wonderful topic. I like the ones where it seems like she’s burning to death, but then she hops down and walks away, pretty much unscathed.
Thank you… I hope that she can hopscotch a bit more 🙂
Me too.
Now you have me imagining
repurposing chalk lines.
Great write
Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
Thank you, on behalf of women and witches, for standing up for the persecuted!
Yes, wonderful use of language and arrangement of line breaks to, among other things, emphasise “be”. And the message transcends these devices which serve it, managing to be both straightforward and heart-rending.
I love the phrase “burst in bloom”.
stunning and elegant for such burning dark content – speaking with a voice of the fallen – by the hands of others ….
this is BEYOND striking and so powerful Bjorn!
Bring it on brother.
A powerful piece extolling her strength. Love it…and the form, too!
A voice for persecuted women..bravo.
Stunning write Bjorn
much love…
Very nice, sister!
Love this! Your line breaks are wonderful. And, who doesn’t want to burst into bloom?
‘burned before you burst in bloom’.. ah yes.. these women become victims at the hands of coward men. Such powerful use of language here, Bjorn!
Yes, thank you for speaking up. We judge so much by our narrow views.
I really like the structure of this one, the way in which the breaks illustrate details of the fracture system/minds that made this be.
kaykuala
You a woman
cursed by coward men.
Pretty obvious a lot had gone under the bridge and she had caused many men to suffer.
Hank
Nice tribute to those condemned women, Bjorn. Just today there was something newly discovered about our, US, New England witch hunting and burnings. Either of the town or another attribute’s finding. From yours I learned of the early ages that the witches were.
..
I love all the b’s and especially the emphatic existential one – to be -theirs a belief begrudged and embezzled in a purge – men also burned though
Funny how the persecution of women as witches is still on point in this day and age. Makes one think.
Be, be–
Just let her be