Jane Doe

Bridget Bishop
    wore a red cloak,
and she was hanged
    for the crime
of being a woman, for owning a tavern,
    for being herself.

Rebecca Nurse
    was called a witch
for owning land, for criticizing
    her accusers,
    for the crime
of being a woman, for being
    at the wrong place
in the wrong time.

Jane Doe
    sought justice
for someone else’s shame,
    for her crime
of being a woman,
    for being 
in the wrong place
    at the wrong time,
for existing.

Witch, slut, whore—
    but there goes a promising
young man, surely his life
    should not be ruined,
surely his life
    is worth more
than a single mistake—

but the devil
    is in the details,
darling,
    and the group chat
holds fifty-seven cowards,
    further evidence
of why women choose the bear,
of why women
    don’t report their assaults,
because
    while two men
were banished,
    the other five
were simply given homework,
an essay
    instead of justice,
an essay
    instead of punishment,
an essay
    instead of a reckoning. 

Over the years,
the witch
    changes,
but the woman
    doesn’t.

Bits and Bobs

• Please be aware that MRM, which owns Asimov’s, F&SF, and more, is engaging in unsavory contract practices. This is both for art and writing. Please consider this when sending out submissions.

• It’s my birthday next week! Please consider buying a copy of Offerings for Ordinary Gods!

• PLEASE take extra good care of yourself right now. Remember, “it’s the fascism, boss.” The US economy is in the crapper. Costs are rising. Salaries are not, and the food and meds are now trying to kill us at random. Everyone is struggling, myself included. Please be kind to yourself.

• As always, do not harm, but take no shit.

Until next time, kittens. XOXO