Allison Burris

Reasons for the Witch Hunt

We burned her because she lived alone
and because cats are evil.
We burned her because, like all women
she was obsessed with sex, but not with us.
We burned her because we assume
she wanted to be a man,
flying with that broom between her legs.
Because she had no children
Because she’s too old to have more children.
Because we are scared the Devil might, in fact, win out.
We burned her over a birthmark,
a small prick to see her bleed.
We haven’t had an execution in a while.
It’s because she did not fall sick.
Because she knows too much.
Because she births babes and eats them.
We burned her because we wanted to
see her shaved and naked.
Because we wanted her to beg.
Because someone should die
for our shame.
We burned her because she kept giving out
ideas, contraception, choices, chances.
Because she bled by the light of the moon.
We burned her because it’s just so creepy—
the herbs drying from the ceiling,
her patience with crawling creatures.
We burned her because
there was nothing else to do.

Allison Burris grew up in the Pacific Northwest and currently lives in Oakland, California. Her poems embrace the whimsical and cozy, explore human connection, and affirm the power of stories. She received her MLIS from San Jose State University and her poetry appears or is forthcoming in various journals, including After Happy Hour Review, Passionfruit, The Marbled Sigh, and Avalon Literary Review.