A Writer's Wonderland [PDF] - University of Portsmouth

My brother’s wife; we are punished by
God.’
I cannot believe it to be true, he
Would have our marriage, our love nulled,
he would
Basterdize our daughter, he would insult
And dishonour me... My emotions are
Suddenly too sharp to stifle. Hot tears
Mask my face, my words are inaudible.
Henry cannot calm me. His excuses
Come too fast and defeated, he withdraws.
X
I fear that I have sought myself further
Injustice by pacing from the courts at
Blackfriars. I did not even return
The following day. I refuse to be
Humiliated before a hostile
Court and prejudice judges, when our case
Is still to be tried in Rome. I have now
Realised that I am not fighting men.
I am fighting the devil himself and
The witch who cursed them all with her
magic.
Henry’s court falls apart around him, he
Loses his once favoured men due to my
Refusals, but I will rescue his soul.
I will save him from retched damnation.
Henry and I now only see each other
At formal events when we are civil.
I remain the dutiful, humble wife,
And ignore the slights as Anne is granted
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My precious, heavy jewellery, jewels of
A Queen. She is no Queen and the people
Loathe her. She presents herself to them and
They reject her. They name her a foul witch,
They hurl foods and faeces at her and the
Soldiers struggle to shield her. If only
Henry would see. We have been hunting at
Windsor much longer than usual this year.
I ponder over Henry’s intentions
As I mend his best shirts. I long for his
Touch and affections. My mind was
engrossed
With reclaiming Henry’s eye, that I quite
Forgot his qualities that I pine for.
‘Your Grace?’ I turn to the angst face of
My lady. I know the worst, but nod to
Her to continue. ‘His Highness has left.
Anne and his court are among him,’ she
cries.
I stand and cross to the far window where
His men are still loading his gear onto
Carts to be brought behind. ‘Never mind
that,’
My voice firm, yet inside I’m utterly
Devastated and I must stand still to
Cease my bones from quivering like a sad
Child. ‘Fetch me paper and my sealing wax,
I shall wish him Godspeed as a wife should.’
My lady bows and departs to leave me.
I fall into my chair. My hands fumble
With the needle. My fingers slip over
The silk. I work leisurely, astray to