I, Sarah Malcolm
I am Sarah Malcolm -
yes, the one they call “the Irish Laundress”
and the jury found me guilty of the murders
(the Infamous Murderess)
of Mrs Lydia Duncomb,
Mrs Harrison and the servant Ann Price
in Mrs Lydia’s chamber
at the Inns of Court in the Temple;
and imagine the jury only needed 15 minutes
and there was disbelief when I admitted to robbery
but not murder
and there was disgust
when I said the blood on my clothing was my own menstrual blood
and not the blood of Ann Price:
I had broken a taboo in talking of menstrual blood
for, as they say,
only ‘loose’ and the not so ‘virtuous’ women speak that way
and of course even after the judgement
I have been deemed even more guilty
for I am “of a different Communion”
of the Catholic faith, not Anglican -
just as the Ordinary, James Guthrie described me
in instructing me here at Newgate on the Christian faith;
and I have earned the name now of many
as the 'evil, barbaric, and stubborn woman'
And now Mr Hogarth sketches and paints
that you might have a view of me;
and the appointed date is 7 March 1733
when I will be executed...
and these lines I add to the picture
that you might remember me
_________________________________
poem based on steel engraving of Sarah Malcolm (1710-1733) by William Hogarth (British, 1697-1764).
This is the second Irish oriented poem I have read in the last 15 minutes (the first being "Wolfe Tone" by John McCullagh). Must be getting close to Saint Paddy's day. Excellent and informative write about a subject few know much about. Good one Raj.
Wow! what a great subject matter, thrilling.
Describing the bad old days with your usual artistic framing of words this picture of Sarah the laundress will stay in our minds and we will remember her fate Raj. Another thoroughly engaging read.
Ha ha... History ~ A nice place to visit, but you wouldn't wanna live there.
You have well dwelt on the poem subject without sacrificing your humour signature...this write only shows how much well read you are...congrats