Once on the Isle of Orkney

amid intrigue and plots to kill the earl

north of the cold and the crags

above the wind-whipped Scottish coast

a truth was needed most rapidly

so –

 

the Witch of Stenness was taken to die

no healer, no helper, no heroine they cried

two days of fire TWO did naught but steel

her hardy reserve and sew shut malignant maw

 

tear her heart through and through

in the torture of bedside beloveds

will confession cry forth from foul lips

so son and husband were put

to flame and iron and hammer they were put

yet nothing wrung the accused’s black tongue

except INNOCENT INNOCENT INNOCENT

not sick sweet smell of brave boy’s flesh

nor 57 blows of mallet each one as crashes

crushing nails through Christ his holy self

 

take husband then they said they said

take him to the lang irons to pile upon

the weight of the earth and see how far

how distant from Atlas old Balfour could be

as stone upon stone laid they upon he

but 81 years had petrified his bones

and not 700 pounds did move her mouth

so Parson Henry God’s servant Colville

did shine upon a devious thought

what evil can I do when this noble cause

shall make me immune from just judgement

 

bring in the child, cherub of her mother’s breast

put soft thumbs as yet used only to play

as kitten’s lure beneath the bedding blanket

secure them in the sin-eating screws

pierce milk-fed skin with every strength

till the drum shattering cries of

MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA

do wrack her very shredded soul (what’s left)

it was enough to twist out their necessary truth

no mother’s heart can endure a baby’s wails

so from her throat rose up on high the desired

AYE and AYE again

just spare their lives and let it end

and end it did with defiant Alesoun on the stake

steely stern-eyed Alisoun crying one last time

INNOCENT, INNOCENT I die an INNOCENT

 

but death was not done as Parson Colville had sown sorrows

till sickle did reap a heavy harvest from him

left later dead blade bent and life lost in mud

now one rests well and the other tortured twists

waiting for the trumpet called day they kneel

side by side they kneel before come Lord

to speak for lives once lived as answers to His question –

"whither would you spend eternity?"

to one with family near "come thou my child stand with me"

to the other agrieved alone "depart accursed I never knew ye"

there is justice poured forth like rain upon the flesh of Alesoun Balfour

a salve to every burn and a hand  brushed ‘cross tear stained cheek

forever and forever in wholeness forever