Inspired by 3.21 Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
drifts through the Tower walls,
and roams headless at Hampton Court,
at Hever, she walks beside a tree
where she and Henry courted.
Or here, she comes bejeweled, the “B”
about her neck, her dark eyes without
their brilliant flash–
trapped in-between,
seeking peace, searching for release–
another victim of lust, a cast-off plaything,
a pawn in men’s power games.
Does it matter if she was willing
if bound she must be
to satisfy ambitious–
the second sister offered, the first
to become queen.
Was this always her fate–
haunted and haunting–
another spirit lost in time,
another woman in white, red, or grey.
For Paul Brookes’ month-long Foltober Challenge. I hadn’t thought of Anne Boleyn as a ghost, but apparently people have claimed they’ve seen her ghost in many different places. A ghost that travels? You can see all the images and the responses here.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
She is a ghost of the suffering of women in history, reminding us, I think…
Hi Ain! Yes, I think so, too–so many. Thank you.
Another at the mercy of a merciless man. You’ve described her so very well, Merril.
Thank you very much, Dale!
My pleasure, Merril!
Too many of these ghosts. (K)
Yes, indeed.
A profound poem on the role of women. You know I am reading “Clarissa”.
Thank you very much, Derrick.
Yes, I know you are. 🙂
I imagine she has many a tale to tell…a fascinating character and who knows her real story?
That’s true. We really don’t know what was in her heart and mind. All we have are interpretations from what sources still exist.
I discovered that even this famous painting was not painted until after her death.
(Recognised your ‘if’s) Yes, she was just used by her scheming family for their own enrichment but I think her brother was executed too, in the plot that was concocted against her. Must have been fraught being a noblewoman in those days.
Yes, her brother and some other men were executed, too. Adultery with a queen was treason.
Yes, to be a noble at all was probably fraught–or connected to them like Cromwell.
You’d wonder why they ever wanted to climb so high that everyone was gunning for them, but I imagine the thirst for power was stronger than common sense. Cromwell was the same. If you rise to the top, amass huge wealth, you’re bound to have lots of enemies.
Yes, that’s true. I imagine that once you get to a certain stage though, it’s difficult to become disentangled from that web.
Men in particular begin to believe they’re invincible.
Yes. That’s what power does, I suppose.
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
I could see Anna Bolyn as a ghost, forever regretting her folly in becoming a pawn in men’s power games. They never end well for the woman.
I’m not sure that she had a choice. She was a pawn no matter what. I guess she tried to win what she could, and if she had given birth to a son, she would not have been executed. Her daughter learned from her mistake.
My view of her may have been influenced by movies I’ve seen.
It’s hard not to be. I think my view of Cromwell is much changed since reading and watching Wolf Hall.