Friday, September 21, 2007

My Name is Anna Goeldi

My name is Anna Goeldi. I found work
like many girls who couldn’t read or write
(no job for me as secretary, clerk)
as maid by day... and something else by night.
Would I have chosen otherwise? Of course:
an honest life, a family of my own—
but I was poor, and he had no remorse.
I gave my body up and swallowed stone
to fill my heart. It ended badly. Tried
for witchcraft, tortured, killed in public view.
It’s no medieval tale I tell. I died
in A.D. seventeen and eighty-two.
If you believe an unfair fate befell me,
remember me. My name is Anna Goeldi.

Anna Goeldi's story

Update: It looks like Anna Goeldi will be exonerated, more than 200 years later.

And another update: The exoneration is official.

9 comments:

paisley said...

i am off to read the story.. thanks for the heads up....

Anonymous said...

An interesting story, and a very well done sonnet.

Menopauseprincess said...

I love how you've written about Anna, I wanted to know more immediately.

I read the story, so sad.

Jo said...

beautiful, as is all your writing......seems we both been entranced by witches recently.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Beautifully written and sad, thanks for the link too.

Patois42 said...

I can see why you would be drawn to her story. Fascinating. I loved your post as her.

Anonymous said...

Your post compelled me to follow the link and read - amazing, and sad.

Tumblewords: said...

Lovely writing - I'll read the story.

amanda showers said...

does anyone know if the Last Witch movie is available with english subtitles? she was an ancestor of mine. (there were always jokes about witchey energy in the Guldi sisters before we even found that out and a very intense energy has always followed the family around.) i'm trying to get a hold of a copy of the movie to no avail...