Mind on Fire Books

Throughout literature, witches have cast a spell over readers, embodying both fascination and fear. From Shakespeare’s eerie witches in Macbeth to the magical realms of J.K. Rowling, witches have ignited our imaginations for centuries. Let’s delve into three enchanting poems that explore the witchy theme in unique and compelling ways.

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“Witch-Wife” by Edna St. Vincent Millay

The first poem on our list is “Witch-Wife” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. This poem was published in 1923 and is considered a classic of modern poetry. In it, Millay paints a vivid picture of a witch-wife and her mysterious powers.

She is neither pink nor pale,
    And she never will be all mine;
She learned her hands in a fairy-tale,
    And her mouth on a valentine.

She has more hair than she needs;
    In the sun 'tis a woe to me!
And her voice is a string of colored beads,
    Or steps leading into the sea.

She loves me all that she can, 
    And her ways to my ways resign; 
But she was not made for any man, 
    And she never will be all mine.

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From her broomstick to her midnight opera, the poem explores the mysterious and powerful figure of the witch-wife with a skillful mix of lyricism and imagery.

“The Witch of Coös” by Robert Frost in The Allure of Witches

The next poem is “The Witch of Coös” by Robert Frost. This poem was published in 1923 and is one of Frost’s most enigmatic works. Set in a small New England village, the poem tells the story of a wiccan who has lived in the village for centuries. While her power is feared by the villagers, the poem also conveys a sense of fascination and admiration. With its haunting imagery and darkly beautiful language, the poem captures the mysterious and powerful figure of the sorceress.

I staid the night for shelter at a farm
Behind the mountain, with a mother and son,
Two old-believers. They did all the talking.
 
The Mother
     Folks think a witch who has familiar spirits
     She could call up to pass a winter evening,
     But won’t, should be burned at the stake or something.
     Summoning spirits isn’t “Button, button,
     Who’s got the button?” I’d have you understand.
 
The Son
     Mother can make a common table rear
     And kick with two legs like an army mule.
 
The Mother
     And when I’ve done it, what good have I done?
     Rather than tip a table for you, let me
     Tell you what Ralle the Sioux Control once told me.
     He said the dead had souls, but when I asked him
     How that could be–I thought the dead were souls,
     He broke my trance. Don’t that make you suspicious
     That there’s something the dead are keeping back?
     Yes, there’s something the dead are keeping back.
 
The Son
     You wouldn’t want to tell him what we have
     Up attic, mother?
 
The Mother
     Bones–a skeleton.
 
The Son
     But the headboard of mother’s bed is pushed
     Against the attic door: the door is nailed.
     It’s harmless. Mother hears it in the night
     Halting perplexed behind the barrier
     Of door and headboard. Where it wants to get
     Is back into the cellar where it came from.
 
The Mother
     We’ll never let them, will we, son? We’ll never!
 
The Son
     It left the cellar forty years ago
     And carried itself like a pile of dishes
     Up one flight from the cellar to the kitchen,
     Another from the kitchen to the bedroom,
     Another from the bedroom to the attic,
     Right past both father and mother, and neither stopped it.
     Father had gone upstairs; mother was downstairs.
     I was a baby: I don’t know where I was.

Read the last verse here, or check out his selected works on Amazon. 

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“Witch Burning” by Sylvia Plath

“Witch Burning” delves into themes of persecution, isolation, and the search for identity. The speaker portrays themselves as a victim, imprisoned by external forces that have suppressed their individuality. The poem references their historical persecution, paralleling the speaker’s own feelings of victimhood.

In the marketplace they are piling the dry sticks.
A thicket of shadows is a poor coat. I inhabit
The wax image of myself, a doll's body.
Sickness begins here: I am the dartboard for witches.
Only the devil can eat the devil out.
In the month of red leaves I climb to a bed of fire.

It is easy to blame the dark: the mouth of a door,
The cellar's belly. They've blown my sparkler out.
A black-sharded lady keeps me in parrot cage.
What large eyes the dead have!
I am intimate with a hairy spirit.
Smoke wheels from the beak of this empty jar.

If I am a little one, I can do no harm.
If I don't move about, I'll knock nothing over. So I said,
Sitting under a potlid, tiny and inert as a rice grain.
They are turning the burners up, ring after ring.
We are full of starch, my small white fellows. We grow.
It hurts at first. The red tongues will teach the truth.

Mother of beetles, only unclench your hand:
I'll fly through the candle's mouth like a singeless moth.
Give me back my shape. I am ready to construe the days
I coupled with dust in the shadow of a stone.
My ankles brighten. Brightness ascends my thighs.
I am lost, I am lost, in the robes of all this light.

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Compared to Plath’s other works, this poem exhibits a similar confessional tone. However, it differs in its use of figurative language and symbolism, which is less overtly violent and more introspective. The poem’s language is deliberately restrained, conveying the speaker’s sense of powerlessness and their struggle to break free from their oppressors.

Why Witches Continue to Captivate Us

These three poems are just a glimpse into the vast literary landscape where witches reign supreme. From classic authors like Millay and Frost to modern voices like Plath, Witchy characters have been symbols of mystery, power, and rebellion. They challenge norms, embody the unknown, and invite us into realms where magic intertwines with reality.

Unearth More Bookish Treasures

Unveiling More Witchy Wonders

If these poems have sparked your interest, there’s a whole cauldron of literary works centered around witches waiting for you. Consider diving into:

• “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller: A dramatic exploration of the Salem witch trials.
• “A Discovery of Witches” by Deborah Harkness: A modern tale blending history, magic, and romance.
• “Circe” by Madeline Miller: A fresh take on the classic myth of one of literature’s most famous witches.

Final Thoughts

The allure of witches in literature lies in their ability to embody both the enchanting and the formidable. They represent the mysteries that lie beyond the surface, inviting us to question, dream, and sometimes, to confront our deepest fears. As long as stories are told, witches will continue to be powerful figures who captivate and inspire.

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