Blathering Doggerel: Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?

WhatWhyHow???

This year, I set myself the foolish task of trying to write something every day, and what you see here is the result. None of this is finished, polished, or in any way good. It's usually a few lines at the end of the day when I'm tired, my head's broken, and this nonsense spills out of it onto the page. Feel free to comment away, and if you think anything has any potential then let me know and I might have a go at working on it further.

But hang on, where's the first month? You've ripped us off! I hear you say... Well, yes. I have been writing since the beginning of January, but it's taken me a while to get the blog up, so everything here is a month old.

Sunday, 19 January 2025

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Parson Tringham

I gave her a name, but I am not to blame

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said John

I gave her my blood, though I dragged it through the mud

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Joan

My beautiful first born, first married, first mourned

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Liza-Lu

Though I grew into her face I never meant to take her place

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Izz Huett

I almost betrayed but at the last I stayed

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Marian

Though when the hour passed I drained my glass

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Retty Priddle

Though to be his wife I would have given my life

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Alec

I had my fun and paid the cost but I was already lost

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said Angel

Though I found my way too late she had already sealed her fate

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who Killed Tess Durbeyfield?
Not I, said the executioner

It was never up to me, all I did was set her free

I didn't kill Tess Durbeyfield

Who killed Tess Durbeyfield?

It was I, said Thomas Hardy

I was the author and she was my daughter

Too pure for this world from the very first word

I killed Tess Durbeyfield

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