Towering Fears

Towering Fears©

Accusations of treason brought me to these
Barren stone walls, lacking comfort
Guarded like a thief, my fears take flight.
I oft hear my mother’s ghost echo my present fate! [1]

The Tower walls, a pale bone white
Bloodless countenance, I fear
Within these confines, breathing stale air.
The good Lord my only friend.

My attendant Jane sits and sews in calm,
Near window light, filter’d through the London haze.
“Jane! Bring me paper and quill” I cry,
Meekly, “Yes m’lady, “and jumps at my command.

The pompous plot of Wyatt’s sealed my fate. [2]
That I should appear in his camp: Absurd!
My cork heels tap out heartbeat distress so
Stainless I am, and shall be proved a

Virgin in this tyranny and deceit.
I severed not my loyalty, nor wish for decollation[3].
Alas that I would attain my freedom, from
Traitors gate; the gait I do not tread.

DeAnna Slevin, 2008

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[1] Unable to bear King Henry VIII a male heir to the throne, Anne Boylen, Elizabeth’s mother, was accused of witchcraft, incest and adultery, and was imprisoned then executed at the Tower of London, 19 May 1536

[2]After the death of King Edward VI, Sir Thomas Wyatt plotted to overthrow the newly crowned Queen Mary I, and help Elizabeth gain the throne. Elizabeth was imprisoned in the Tower of London under suspect of involvement, which was never proved.

[3] Decollation: to be beheaded or decapitated.

No part of this poem may be reproduced without the author's consent. To do so is theft and plagiarism and will be punishable to the full extent of the law.

Grandma's Swedish Meatballs

Heat oven to 350º F
Spray a 2 quart glass casserole dish and set aside.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
1 12 ounce roll Jimmy Dean's light pork sausage
1/3-1/2 cup bread crumbs (you can use seasoned or plain)
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 small onion peeled and chopped fine
1 small peeled russet potato, grated fine*
2 tsp ground sage
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp pepper

Combine above ingredients in a large bowl, mixing well. On a counter top pull out a 3 foot long sheet of waxed paper. Dump meatball mixture onto one half of the waxed paper and fold the other side over. Using the waxed paper to keep your hands clean, flatten out the meat mixture into a roughly rectangular slab approximately 1" thick. Then peel back the top waxed paper and with a long knife score the meat into equal 1 " grid portions for easy, uniform rolling.

Then roll each square by hand into a meat ball and set aside until all of your meat mixture is rolled.

In a heavy skillet spray with light non-stick spray and heat on medium. Add several meatballs at a time to the pan turning gently to brown on all sides, until no pink shows. Transfer browned meatballs to the greased casserole dish. Continue until all of the meatballs have been browned.

Then, in the same skillet, drain any excess grease, then add 1 small can of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, and 1 can of milk. Heat through, then pour over top of meatballs. Cover casserole dish heavy aluminum foil, and bake for 30-40 min in preheated oven. Serve with mashed potatoes or noodles.


* My Grandma Mamie always added grated potato, and this recipe can be made gluten free by omitting the bread crumbs and using a large potato instead, as well as omitting the mushroom soup gravy.