Inspired by F3.18, The Bell Witch
The Bell Witch
Why is one family tormented,
another blessed—
the sins of the father
manifested in bumps and tremors,
an unsettled spirit, settling scores.
Hold a bible, burn the witch,
the haunting goes on
as generations pass,
you wonder more
which came first,
a miasma of evil,
or corruption of the soul?
For Paul Brookes’ Folktober Ekphrastic Challenge. You can see the images and read the other responses here.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Well said. Life is unfair
Thank you.
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
*shiver* I’d hate to have to answer that question.
Thank you. Yes.
I read about this family and the spirit that was said to torment them. And it just made me wonder about them–and they were slaveholders.
You’re welcome, Merril. That the family were slave holders adds another dimension to the poem.
Thank you. Once I read that, I couldn’t get it out of my head.
You’re welcome. I can understand why.
Why is the infinite unanswerable question. (K)
Yes, it is.
Genes have a lot to answer for
Thank you, Derrick. 😏
You ask similar questions to the ones I ask today. It’s so strange (except it isn’t) that all these vindictive black-magic wielding individuals are women.
Yes, unfortunately it isn’t strange.
Some things haven’t changed.
Not set to either.
What a tough question. Perhaps we are all unsettled spirits, in a way, and we struggle to not be corrupted. Some do not succeed….
Thank you, Pam.
Perhaps so. I just had the feeling that the father was not a nice man–and they were slaveholders. . .
A pertinent question, Merril – for sure there are witchhunts aplenty even continuing to this day!
Thank you, Ingrid. Yes, indeed.