On the bridge before these walls
stood the spears with the heads
of all who were in the way
cut off on the block, with ravels
if the convicted refused
to pay the headsman
for a quick death, the heads
with holes where the blackbirds pick
the holes where the eyes were
The parishioners wore shawls
over their noses and mouths
during the Sunday service
in the church of the chains
because it reeked from the vault
full of beheaded bodies
oh, history lessons
don't make anyone happy
at best our children
if we don't let us be tied down
by complicity in injustice
lifelong guilt and shame
if we dare to count on each other
and rise up against tyranny
Jun 18, 2023
Jun 18, 2023 at 3:55 AM UTC
On the bridge before these walls
stood the spears with the heads
of all who were in the way
cut off on the block, with ravels
if the convicted refused
to pay the headsman
for a quick death, the heads
with holes where the blackbirds pick
the holes where the eyes were
The parishioners wore shawls
over their noses and mouths
during the Sunday service
in the church of the chains
because it reeked from the vault
full of beheaded bodies
oh, history lessons
don't make anyone happy
at best our children
if we don't let us be tied down
by complicity in injustice
lifelong guilt and shame
if we dare to count on each other
and rise up against tyranny
Tower of London
Henry VIII
Collection "The drama"
