On the field
in front of Traitor’s Gate
they hacked my head off.
They probably stuck it on a pole
so the horror of it all
would live on in people’s memory.
I couldn’t care less for any of that
anymore: my head’s off, somewhere down there
while I’m up here, observing…
Shall we say detachedly?
Or would that be distasteful?
You can’t taste anything with your head off except magic.
© Experimentsinfiction 2020, All Rights Reserved
Sarah is hosting at dVerse tonight, and she has given us a set of 3-word prompts, each one corresponding to a location in London on the website what3words.
I chose ‘field.memory.magic’ as these three words spoke to me most strongly of my experience of London. I didn’t expect them to take me to such a dark place as Traitor’s Gate. Appropriate for Halloween, at least!
Note on accuracy: there’s no field in front of traitor’s gate, unless you’re looking at the gate from the inside the tower complex, having already passed through it.
Great words – and what a place they took you to! I love the devil-may-care attitude of this poem, Ingrid:
‘I couldn’t care less for any of that
anymore: my head’s off, somewhere down there’
and the final line is brilliant!
It made me think of the BBC1 comedy ‘Ghosts’ by the people who made ‘Horrible Histories’ – there’s a head without a body – very funny.
I think my words reflected my mood at the time of writing! Pleased you enjoyed it, Kim.
I’m beginning to recognise your style, Ingrid. As Kim says, it’s the attitude. Like that raven.
Thank you, Jane – I’m flattered!
It’s a good thing to have a style and a voice 🙂
Oh I like this… and the perspective of the beheaded not caring less. I like the thought that he speaks from inside the raven…
I think once your head has been removed there is really no point caring about anything much!
Very darkly written and gothic with mesmerizing imagery. I love every word. It’s wow. It’s incredible.
I’m pleased you enjoyed it, Lucy – think I was in a dark mood when I wrote it!
Ingrid, I hate to say I’m delighted by such a dark poem, but the idea of the traitor’s soul now dwelling in a wizened magical crow in the afterworld does just that.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it! I was having a dark day, and I guess that came out in my writing.
It happens 😉
Nice, I’m seeing Anne Boleyn reincarnated as a corvid (raven, crow, rook, chuff, magpies…)
This could be the case!
I too love the attitude in this poem, Ingrid and was blown away by “Shall we say detachedly? Or would that be distasteful?”
A bit of gallows humour, I suppose!
Beheading as the fashion for a time, perhaps more humane than poison gas or lynching or electrocution.
Yes, unfortunately those are still in vogue in certain places…
Well you “did” Traitor’s Gate quite proper, I’d say!
Thank you, Beverly!
This is magically good. I love darkness as: so the horror of it all
would live on in people’s memory.
As Voltaire said: ‘pour encourager les autres’
I like the humor in this rather dark poem!
Thanks, it’s dark humour, but humour nonetheless!
oh my goodness you took this to an even darker place than I did, well done!
I was having a dark day 😅
best to get it out … take care!
kaykuala
Very powerful and not totally unexpected with trying times these days Ingrid Out of the usual and a dark poem but bravely cut. Great thinking Ma’am!
Hank
Thank you so much – I guess some of my inner darkness came out here!
We chose the same words! I like your take from the perspective of the beheaded (and the raven). Why would they care? I really like that last line, and the except magic added on.
These words really leapt off the page to me. London is a magical kind of place!
Thank you so much, Ingrid! I was only there once as a child, but I’ve read a lot about it. 😀
Yikes, a bloody good job at keeping your head in the game, Ingrid!!
Thanks, Lynn – luckily I still have mine on for now!
I imagine the raven sitting on those shoulders, acting as a medium for the body.
It’s a haunting idea, isn’t it?
Gallows humour I relate to. Cleverly written Ingrid. Shall we say detachedly? Perfect…..
What a great ending, Ingrid. Love this poem!
Thank you so much!