Trouble.
Dearest My Lord.
please to read this missive not with haste
but in serious thought.
Come Sire, and view such unholy state
to which thou hast brought me
at being with child and of hearing lately
of thy touring intent mine heart
starteth in great alarm, as I indisposed
must know for sure that thou be
not going away.
Fie upon that scheme mine Liege for
thou hast in me fathered a babe.
Thou shouldest stay and embrace mine
own confinement to disgrace,
whereby the infant will bear no name
and wouldst thou abandon me to this fate
prithee have pity on offspring shame.
Pray marry me do, thou canst not afford
to blacken my future by
seeing the truth and fleeing abroad
and thus relinquish parenthood destiny.
I belong only to thee so do not ill-use me.
Thou sought thy way now takest thou mine
for without thy support I must surely decline.
Thus ought thou to realize I live in fright
and dread unless on thee I rely.
This heart beateth only for thine say I.
Thou hast undone me so prithee consider
the direst results, face thy conscience
and beside me do stay.
I remain heavy with agitation lest thy reply
dashes trust so quill thee therefore
to think my Lord on resolving such trouble
as of utmost importance.
Sent in the month of September 1709.
From Mary Elizabeth, distraughtedly thine.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: September 26th, 2018 03:25
- Comment from author about the poem: The picture suggested to my imagination how shameful would be the fate of an unwed woman due to give birth.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 11
- User favorite of this poem: Poetic Dan.
Offline)
Comments4
Love this, Fay Slimm, your writing skills own such desire for the reader to go through to the end. Your idea of a misspent child is a reminder of how so many women fall to this prey. Great writing,
A wrenching read - thankfully we now have a more tolerant and understanding society but there is still a long way to go. What a superb write Fay.
Thanks FAY for sharing your THOUGHTS on a PICTURE and in an even more revealing POEM. Men are careless where they "sow their seed" and are often absent (as in your Ode) when the LADY has to "bare the FRUIT" alone. There would be much STIGMA attached at the beginning of the 18th C but even today when the STIGMA has lessened it is still the Lady who has to bear the STRAIN ~ and still in many circles the SHAME. So often MEN have their way and (as in your ODE) prefer FLIGHT rather than stay and FIGHT for the Lady,s Honour. Despite modern facilities I have encountered the Stress & Distress of some of my female Students and in my Extended Family. if only MEN would think before they JUMP. Angela (30) and I (35) are very capable of PROCREATING but we are both Church Workers and in Role Model Jobs (Caring & Teaching) so we will have to wait until after Easter 2020. At the moment 11,500 miles is much better than the PILL ! Thanks for sharing it has made us all think about sexual responsibility in the 21st C ! Yours as ever BRIAN 😎 Love ANGELA 🧡🧡
A fine write Fay.
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