A WITCH’S GUIDE TO ESCAPE
NP 2019
(Fits to the hymn tune ‘Marching’ "Through the night of doubt and sorrow")

Through the years you give the books out, honouring the lib’ry creed
Give the kids the books they ask for, not the ones they really need.

Slowly, try to train their reading, guide them from the primrose path,
Never heed your colleague’s tutting, never fear the witches wrath.

Ev’ry day you fight your conscience, knowing that one day you’ll lose
(and) Give a child books that will help them, not the ones the child would choose.

Out of sight are books of learning, ancient tomes of hidden lore.
Needed for that final lesson, needed then, but not before.

Then at last the child, quite ready, reads the book that sets them free.
And ‘the book’ returns to storage, drawn from Salem’s library.


Based on the 'short story' winner of the Hugo awards (Dublin 2019) Story here