There has always been Tyranny
When Repression has it's way
Like the time of The Burnings
When Religion stole each Day
A Witchfinder roamed free
Women were brutally killed
Villages were purged from sin
God's will was at last fulfilled....
In a tiny Wiltshire Hamlet
Known then as Midhurst Vale
Locals came to regret their deeds
When gathered at Pikes Swale
A Soldiers Widow named Sophie
Was one of the Women scorned
A Curse will follow this Village
From the flames she loudly warned
Sophie had a young Daughter
Now rejected by all in the fold
Devils own they called Her
A Child barely one year old
A sealed box they cast Her
In the swale by the stream
The noise of running water
Would drown a child's scream
She bear the mark of Evil
A red spot upon Her head
Little Annie was Innocent
But would very soon be dead
One decade and a half later
Upon a Midsummers morn
Just as the Sun was rising
A harrowing legend was borne
Early risers had gathered
To celebrate the Year
Twas then they first spotted
A figure that incited fear
A Lone hare with red eyes
As black as black can be
Stood upon a tiny mount
As menacing as any Banshee
The creature exuded Horror
With it's piercing focused glare
Twas the Devil they All imagined
Fire beamed from it's stare
Fear engulfed the Villagers
Fleet of foot they fled
Back to the safety of their Homes
To hide under their Bed
In Midhurst Vale on Swales Mount
A Fair Maiden cried at Dawn
Remembering her mother Sophie
A Loss she would forever mourn...
Midhurst Vale was never the same
Their wrongs they wanted to right
Sheltering Strangers and Homeless
The Black Hare was a conduit of light
Should You wander Wiltshire Trails
Be sure at Pikes Swale Ye stop
Cos even today upon its mount
A Black Hare may sit atop