Len’s poem for women accused of witchcraft
A young "warrior poet" whose videos have gone viral on social media has created a new piece honouring the thousands of Scots women who were persecuted for witchcraft.
Fife student Len Pennie, one of the rising stars of Scotland’s poetry scene thanks to her daily posts on Twitter, has described their treatment as “statesanctioned murder of innocent folks” in a powerful new video.
It includes a pledge to “demand justice” for all those who were tortured and tried when the Witchcraft Act was law in Scotland between the 16th and 18th centuries, branding it “a punishment lacking a crime”.
The 21-year-old was commissioned by campaigners fighting to secure a pardon, apology and new national memorial for all those accused, convicted and executed between 1563 and 1736. The film featuring her poem, In Memorial, was launched to coincide with the Scottish Parliament being formally asked to right a “terrible miscarriage of justice” suffered by almost 4,000 Scots accused of witchcraft, the vast majority women.
The poem includes the lines: “Your deid, but never gone, hen, there's them still carry your name
"There's them that mind criminals biding in courts, heids that should hang heavy with shame
"Auld Nick didnae ken you fae Eve, hen, you had but your ain eyes to see.”
The petition lodged by the Witches of Scotland campaign, which is being led by QC Claire Mitchell and author Zoe Venditozzi, suggests that Scotland had five times as many witch trials as anywhere else in Europe.