An imagined letter, and penned in secret,
a message like this would have been sent
by hand at this time, and written in similar
style, because the condition of unmarried
motherhood was feared, and was seen as a
lifelong stain on both woman and child.
Dearest My Lord. read this with haste.
Come Sire, and view this unholy state
To which thou hast brought me
and mine heart,
Which, at the mention of thy intent starteth
In great alarm, as I lately hear say,
Even alas as I indisposed, that thou
be going away,
But fie upon thee, thou hast sired a child.
Thou shouldest stay, and embrace mine
Own confine,
the infant will bear no name
If thou abandon me, prithee have pity
on shame
Pray marry me do, thou canst never afford
To blacken my name by
fleeing abroad
And relinquish thy forthcoming destiny.
I have been only thine, do not ill-use me.
Thou hadest thy way, now takest thou mine.
Without thy support I must surely decline
Thus I live in despair until
thy reply.
My heart beateth only for thee say I,
Thou hast undone me.
Prithee reconsider and stay.
I remain thy dependant unto this day
Of the Lord
in the month of September, 1609.
From Mary Elizabeth, distraughtly thine.
Published 2010/07/25, write a comment
You have captured her plea so well. Funny the guilt and shame of this is still felt in some places in our world today, and treated without understanding. A great write.
Fay, this superbly inked write has won my heart! I adore your use of 'Olde English' which is most effective and was the language of the times in 1609. Such a poignant, heart breaking story within the lines of your excellently expressed poem, Fay. Your choice of graphics enhances and compliments the poem. The storyline is delivered in relevant phraseology and it's flow is gentle and graceful. Excellent work of art, Fay! Bookmarked! TFS!
awesome - the image so right for the poem - beautifully classic and so true to those times - Bookmarked Superb
With superb skill using archaic language you have brought to our hearts the sorry plight of a hapless lass of long ago. Do we not still see too often the echoes of yesteryear among those trapped in dependancy cycles. Fine, topical write, Fay
i love the fact that you have used the language of the day.. a lovely piece Fay..
you have captured it exactly well written
You have respectfully & creatively exhumed the soul of 16th Century prosaic quilling, young lady....Impressive work, right down to the very last Prithee and Thine !
A fine piece of classic here Fay.Very deep n beautiful.The title is very wonderful as well.Great work.
This superbly crafted poem, with it's adept use of archaic language, makes women's fears of yesteryear tangible, and touches the heart in the process. A privilege to read, Fay - a poetic slice of history. :)