When night comes a silence is present,
As I wonder within my mind,
Your gaze illuminates the night like a beacon Of calm, eternal light, I wonder... if beneath the moon's pale watchful eye, they whispered
names, they wove the lie.
A silver halo on the darkened land, where it witnessed her light, a truth they could not see, for
ignorance masked their cruelty.
Hung in dread, Above Salem trials, where they all shout "she dances with the moon her call will
make the crops die"
Yet the moon, unjudging, cold and bright
Saw not witches, But a girls fears.
Flames leapt high where reason fell, and echoed prayers turn into knells. The moon wept silently,
wan and thin, As innocence burned for imagined sin.
A reminder in her steady glow,
Of lessons learned too late... too slow.
I wonder, if that was today…... would our curiosity be a death away?
This poem reflects on themes of judgment, fear, and the destructive consequences of ignorance, using the Salem witch trials as a metaphor for broader societal injustices.
The poem compares the tranquil beauty of the moon with the tragic events of human ignorance, particularly the Salem witch trials. The poet begins by setting a contemplative, almost ethereal tone, where the moonlight symbolizes a calm, eternal truth. Yet this serenity contrasts with humanity’s penchant for cruelty, as the moon bears witness to the false accusations and hysteria of Salem. The metaphor of the moon’s “unjudging, cold and bright” nature contrasts with the irrational judgments of society, painting a poignant picture of innocence destroyed by fear and superstition. The repeated emphasis on light and its inability to judge underscores the dissonance between celestial impartiality and human fallibility.
The moon serves as a witness throughout the poem, embodying both a source of truth and a symbol of the enduring passage of time. Its light illuminates the stark contrast between nature’s impartiality and humanity’s cruelty, emphasizing the injustice of judging others based on fear rather than understanding. Personifying the moon as weeping for “innocence burned for imagined sin” deepens the emotional resonance of the poem, highlighting the profound grief that comes with witnessing unnecessary suffering.
In the latter half, the poem evokes the horrors of the trials, with flames symbolizing both destruction and misguided purification. The moon becomes a silent observer and mourner, its “wan and thin” appearance mirroring the loss of innocence and reason. The final rhetorical question bridges past and present, challenging readers to reflect on whether society has truly evolved or if curiosity and fear still lead to unjust persecution. Through vivid imagery and a haunting tone, the poem calls for introspection, urging us to learn from the tragedies of the past before it is too late.
