you were afraid
their laughter 
chilling you bone cold

you watched 
they burned
skin cracking 
sizzling
hands curling 

i know you thought
believed
the burnings 
would satiate 
the hate
but
the fire raged
evermore brightly
wildly

see 
you are a witch-thing, too
shivered cackles 
winding down your spine
they will come for you, yet

your tale is showing.