On Sunday came my trial
with no time for defence;
the charges were unspeakable,
procedure was pretence.
Caught in a web of lies,
the Queen of France now dies
too proud for tears and cries.
They'll chop my head;
my mourners all are dead.
On Monday judged again,
and down the sentence came;
death, death, death on the guillotine
and curses on my name.
Caught in a web of lies,
the Queen of France now dies
too proud for tears and cries.
They'll chop my head;
my mourners all are dead.
On Tuesday sentence served,
the blade is poised to drop;
this is the justice of the mob -
with that, my heart will stop.
Caught in a web of lies,
the Queen of France now dies
too proud for tears and cries.
They'll chop my head;
my mourners all are dead.
Author notes
Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna von Habsburg-Lothringen (November 2, 1755 – Tuesday, October 16, 1793) known as Marie Antoinette.
Sketch: Marie Antoinette on her way to the guillotine, by Jacques-Louis David, 1793
In a list
A contest entry
- #116 Winklings on Wednesdays: Write a poem about women in death by Lyndon.
1500 points, ended September 15, 2008, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Thank you for reading.
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Ah at first I thought the Queen of scots,
A very hard time was had by women then, Mob justice, deserved or not must have been terrifying
to face, Very good flow and rhyme,
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Thank you for your kind comment and applause, ronnica.
In the sketch by David her face is set in hard lines that spoke clearly to me of her feelings in that situation. It was called the Terror.
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Polaja has said well!
You have successfully opted for the exact format in form and style. I congratulate you, poet. I have encountered two queens so far: Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette. Both are apt for this contest.
Well done. 
Lyndon.
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Thank you Ron.
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Wow - this is amazingly done - I love that you have such a beautiful flow and rhythm while following the form of the contest I loved the first stanza the most - the way you have given Marie a voice is wonderful! I wish you all the best in the contest
Keep writing
Polly
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Thank you Polly. The history is clear - the course of her trial and execution were indecently swift. Thank you for applause and your cheerful comment.
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I particularly like this poem.
Partly because it follows the form adopted by Anne when she wrote her poem. You have done well with your rhyme and rhythm.
Poor lady, having her head cut off and knowing it is coming. Shudder!
I like the poem.
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Thank you for applause and your great comment, Richard.
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Perfect, Margaret, perfect. You have encapsulated the emotion and pain which run through to the end. Another Queen, too, and the form runs with her and the rhyme. Congratulations and best of luck in the contest. Joy
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Thank you Joy! congratulations to you.
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