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" . . . the lethal intensity and degree of witch-hunting
. . . was unmatched anywhere else in the New World."
—“The Witch Trials That America Forgot” by Ray Cavanaugh,
Time, October 31, 2016
The last time they pilloried the old
woman for her ugly face, her nasty nature,
they were titillated by her secret
communications—you know about
the scandalous allegations, the fear, the hysteria.
Did you ever think that it was just
twelve generations ago?
We have come a long way, baby. Haven't we,
through the suffering of our handcuffed
great-great-grandmothers, earned universal suffrage?
But, once again, crones who dare to crow about
are being tarred with that ancient brush.
Who can name the terror
that a wrinkled face holds?
Brigitte Goetze, retired biologist and goat farmer, now spends her time spinning all kinds of yarns.