She sat there with shame near the flickering flame,
Bearing betrayal’s name near the flickering flame.
He loved her, she thought—with all of his heart—
Promised to remove her blame in the flickering flame.
She was Black—a free girl—he a northern white;
Her safety was his claim ‘neath the flickering flame.
She believed him and trusted his love for her—
Wed him—became his wife and the flickering flame.
In the forge, she sat there alone in the heat,
Vengeance now her name ‘neath the flickering flame.
She was Black—freeborn—he a white gentleman;
His lies were to blame in the flickering flame.
He loved her, she thought, but she was wrong,
‘Stead, she learned his game ‘neath the flickering flame.
A rich commodity, that Miss Ada was,
He’d sell her in shame sans the flickering flame.
But knowledge is power and she, no slave,
Scorched them both the same in the flickering flame.
Like Tristan and Isolde in horror’s claim,
A Pyre—her forge a frame—the flickering flame.
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, October 13, 2025.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: October 13th, 2025 08:46
- Comment from author about the poem: For Macabre Monday. This is the fifth part in my series, Devilishly Dreadful. Drawing from the 1840s penny dreadful Ada the Betrayed; or, The Murder at the Old Smithy, this reimagining shifts the tale to the Hudson River’s shadowed edge. Here, Ada is a free Black woman whose marriage vows mask her husband’s evil plot. Unlike the original dreadfuls, my telling grants her agency rather than casting her as a tragic damsel in distress—a fate too often imposed on both women and Black characters in classic Western literature. Told as a ghazal, each couplet becomes a shard of fire and betrayal, refraining in the flickering flame until her legend burns eternal.
- Category: Gothic
- Views: 11
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Bella Shepard, Iris Lynn
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Comments5
Your poem revolves around betrayal, love, and the quest for freedom. It explores the complexities of a relationship steeped in racial and social dynamics, illustrating the pain of deceit and the struggle for autonomy. The subject matter focuses on a woman, Ada, who is betrayed by her husband and confronts the harsh realities of her identity as a Black woman in a society that seeks to commodify her.
My friend, you’ve got the heart of it…betrayal, agency, and the cost of freedom. Ada’s not erased here...she claims the fire. Thank you for the thoughtful read, dearest Friendship! 🔥🕯️⚖️🙏
You're very welcome, my friend
Popeye flares up at times. What flares up on him? Don't answer that! lol.
Does he need Preparation H? 🤣🤪
Lol.
Dearest Tristan, talk about words written on paper, maybe, or on here🔥, I do love the picture choice, along came a song✨, masterpiece for sure 🤴, hands down 👌🏼👏🏻🥂
Kiki, your comment made me smile…you saw the picture, heard the song, and felt the blaze. That’s everything I hoped it would carry. Deep thanks for your warmth, my friend. 🔥🕯️⚖️🙏
Your most welcome Dearest Tristan 🤴✨👌🏼 poetry is a vibe vibez 🥂
Devilishly Dreadful, indeed. Your poem and graphic tell the story quite chillingly, with a beguiling twist of fate, which seems its just deserts. Well done!!
Bella, this means so much…you saw the dread, the justice, and the flame’s purpose. Ada’s fire was never just revenge…it was freedom forged in heat. Truly grateful, my friend. 🔥🕯️⚖️🙏
It is always a pleasure to read your work!
An old story of betrayal of the most sacred, Love. An allegory as well of all cases of deceit in a relationship. Instead of the fires of hell he suffers the literal fires of the eternal flame as she murders him and burns the evidence. The repeating lines emphasize the passion of love and the flames or burning guilt and shame. It is interesting that it is cast in black and white good and evil no middle ground here. A wonderful write my friend.
Soren, this means a lot…you caught the allegory, the passion, the guilt, the moral fire. No middle ground in this one, indeed…just the cost of love’s betrayal. Your insight burns bright here, my friend. 🔥🕯️⚖️🙏
Most welcome Tristan
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