Amanda Lovelace’s The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One is a tale of empowerment and encouragement. The second installment in the Women are Some Kind of Magic series encourages women to take control of their own narrative, support other women, feminism, and acceptance. This poetry book uses the figure of the witch, a notoriously persecuted individual, as a figure of empowerment for women.
Just like the witch is a symbol for women, the stages that the witch goes through are a symbol of the journey women take throughout their lifetime. This journey is told into four parts: “the trial,” “the burning,” “the firestorm,” and “the ashes.”
We start off with “the trial” to know what crime women are guilty of. “The only crime we’re guilty of is being women,” the author says. I like how Lovelace uses “the trial” to portray every way women are condemned by society. We may not be going through trial, but we are constantly accused of things we haven’t done. I think these poems truly show why the author says the only crime we are guilty of is being women.
The author then follows to “the burning.” I like how she comments that all society needs to know in order to burn us is that we are women. After the witch is declared guilty, she has to face the burning. Which is similar to women when society punishes them. A great example from this section that portrays this thought was “expectation vs. reality.” I believe it expresses our (and my) frustration that we are never safe, but somehow it is our fault and we are condemned by it. I think this is what “the burning” is all about, being blamed by crimes that are done against us and being punished by them even though it’s not our fault.
We then face “the firestorm.” I like how Lovelace uses “the firestorm” as an ally of women and protection against society. What I get from this section is that society might try to accuse us, but what they don’t know is that we are stronger and we are going to bounce back. In “the firestorm” we get stronger and show society that what they taught us is wrong. I like how “you don’t teach, they don’t learn” has a revolutionary voice and it shows how women are done with the impositions that are put against them. I like this section the most because it vividly expresses the feelings of women today and their demands for change.
Finally, there is “the ashes.” After we are told we are guilty of crimes we have not committed, after being tried, after facing society and their expectations, we rise from the ashes like a Phoenix. Not only do we rise, we have to teach the following generations and we tell them to never be silent again. In this final part, Lovelace speaks proudly of the new stance women are taking against injustice and compliments women everywhere for speaking up for what is right and wrong. She also invites women to join people like the author to show their voice in a different way. What is this idea of the author to show our voice? Poetry.
Poetry is meant to make you feel something, and even though this new style of poetry is not everyone’s cup of tea, it definitely makes people and myself feel something. This book has its flaws, but it is relatable and empowering and I think that’s what matters the most. Reading The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One made me feel encouraged and happy that many women out there are demanding change for a different society. I look forward to reading more of her work.