The Harlot
Punishment
The desperate howl
Of my lover’s keening
Vibrated in the water around me.
As my husband held me down in the sea
Growling under his breath,
“You are mine.”
“You are mine.”
“You are mine.”
Precious clear air quickly being
Replaced by murky water in my lungs
As I struggled and fought to live.
To live, and to love.
To love just one more time.
“Harlot” they shouted.
“Witch” they chanted.
A celebration of hatred.
An army of men held my lover back
Pinning his arms down,
Keeping him from me,
Forcing him to watch me die.
Breaking him, destroying him
As he struggled to save me.
To protect me.
To stop the madness.
To keep loving me.
This was our punishment for love.
I shuddered and died.
And with every cell in my body
I cursed my husband.
I promised to return.
I became the witch.
I was the harlot.
-Julie O'Hara
- Julie O'Hara 2023
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Julie O'Hara - Author, Poet and Spiritual Warrior
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