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Becky Swan's book
- GenresPoetry
Paperback
Published January 1, 1977
About the author
Susan Musgrave
78 books44 followersSusan Musgrave is a Canadian poet and children's writer. She was born in Santa Cruz, California to Canadian parents, and currently lives in British Columbia, dividing her time between Sidney and Haida Gwaii.
Musgrave was married to Stephen Reid, a writer, convicted bank robber and former member of the infamous band of thieves known as the Stopwatch Gang. Their relationship was chronicled in 1999 in the CBC series Life and Times.
She currently teaches creative writing in the University of British Columbia's Optional Residency Master of Fine Arts Program.
Recognizing a life in writing, the Writers' Trust presented Susan Musgrave with the 2014 Matt Cohen Award for her lifetime of work.
Musgrave was married to Stephen Reid, a writer, convicted bank robber and former member of the infamous band of thieves known as the Stopwatch Gang. Their relationship was chronicled in 1999 in the CBC series Life and Times.
She currently teaches creative writing in the University of British Columbia's Optional Residency Master of Fine Arts Program.
Recognizing a life in writing, the Writers' Trust presented Susan Musgrave with the 2014 Matt Cohen Award for her lifetime of work.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 21, 2022
Elisa and Mary
Currant bread, simnel cake and
coloured eggs were eaten on the
picnic. Oh, it was a good
picnic, an elegant one.
We spread the ground with food
for the beautiful women.
Elisa and Mary were joined together
at the hip and shoulder - they were
born that way - joined - bu we decided
to let them come on our picnic.
I would not want to be born joined
promise me I will not be born joined to anyone.
* * *
It Is Wrong
Mary Matlin
why do you poison her?
Why do you not pity her,
she who is crying out, "Help, help!"
Rebecca Perigo is one of your
gullible customers.
You should not make her drink,
not when the cup is bottomless.
* * *
Especially This One
I have seen Edric's body
devoured by hounds
and Edona in the forest
convulsed with laughter.
She kissed a one-legged soldier.
She drank mead with a well-known robber.
Ah, but some women like that are
wicked. Some women are wicked.
* * *
Known for Their Bones
Lucy Littlecote
wearing 18th-century boots
was found bricked up in the
rectory only yesterday.
Dame Phillips
took her there.
Both skeletons were found the
same way, dressed up in
wedding clothes.
They were playing hide-and-go-seek
evidently.
* * *
Lady Eleanor
Lady Eleanor sold her soul,
received a prayer book from the vicar.
Her body was delivered from torment,
delivered from demonry.
Her cold body was placed on the altar,
received a colder kiss from the verger.
* * *
Or Worse
Grand Albert,
fat mad dog,
made love to a witch,
made love to a carrion crow.
He did not know; he did not recognize her
for she was an old artist.
She stuck three thorns in his fat
dog's heart, infested his neighbours.
Sometimes their thumbs ought to be
torn off - witches who do such things as
killing people and infesting neighbours.
* * *
Who Can Be Trusted
Monkey-face, Old Mace,
is a poacher. I know, I know,
he is a respectable clergyman
but I've seen him fetch a club after our
father's sheep on more than one occasion.
I've seen him in the wolf pits bandying.
He gave arsenic to Mistress Blandy.
He said she was loose of tongue but it
wasn't true, she came from a very religious
family.
God will suck the bad ones up,
God snatches the bad ones.
* * *
Still They Call It Marriage
Mother wanted me to marry -
she brought me a red-headed man,
she brought me a holy man.
I let down my hair.
I confessed to uttering spells.
Mother brought me an organ grinder
who married me thinking I had money.
I had nothing but a good-luck charm.
I had supernatural power.
I did not want to play the organ -
I had no wish to marry. I wanted to
dance with the young men in town -
I wanted to dance till they hunted me town
* * *
The Idiots and the Beersoakers
They are in charge of the revels at
Five Miles from Anywhere - No hurry,
Our room had a headless skeleton in the
cupboard - it terrified Matthew so much
he could hardly sleep.
Oh Matthew, Matthew! God will turn your
body to stone before the night is over,
I have seen you playing a game of chance,
talking strangely to your silent partner,
walking arm in arm with your strange partner.
* * *
Grey Ladies
I am disfigured by wounds,
Annie Walker. Mutilated,
Margaret Evans.
Ladies of shade, of shadow and
darkness; grey ladies and brown ladies
attend me.
I go into witch country with a
dowry of wild cattle. No neck,
tiny legs and tongueless in a wet
winter - who would marry it?
I have Godrich fifteen children -
still he beheaded me for adultery.
* * *
Like War, Like Marriage
Isobel, Isobel
let in no lovers.
Are you still faithful on your
death bed? Are you letting it happen?
Isobel, death is sly.
You should not wear white,
you should not paint your face or
show a leg to the male nurses.
Death wants to share everything.
He wants to get under the covers
he wants to get on
he's painting to get on.
Currant bread, simnel cake and
coloured eggs were eaten on the
picnic. Oh, it was a good
picnic, an elegant one.
We spread the ground with food
for the beautiful women.
Elisa and Mary were joined together
at the hip and shoulder - they were
born that way - joined - bu we decided
to let them come on our picnic.
I would not want to be born joined
promise me I will not be born joined to anyone.
* * *
It Is Wrong
Mary Matlin
why do you poison her?
Why do you not pity her,
she who is crying out, "Help, help!"
Rebecca Perigo is one of your
gullible customers.
You should not make her drink,
not when the cup is bottomless.
* * *
Especially This One
I have seen Edric's body
devoured by hounds
and Edona in the forest
convulsed with laughter.
She kissed a one-legged soldier.
She drank mead with a well-known robber.
Ah, but some women like that are
wicked. Some women are wicked.
* * *
Known for Their Bones
Lucy Littlecote
wearing 18th-century boots
was found bricked up in the
rectory only yesterday.
Dame Phillips
took her there.
Both skeletons were found the
same way, dressed up in
wedding clothes.
They were playing hide-and-go-seek
evidently.
* * *
Lady Eleanor
Lady Eleanor sold her soul,
received a prayer book from the vicar.
Her body was delivered from torment,
delivered from demonry.
Her cold body was placed on the altar,
received a colder kiss from the verger.
* * *
Or Worse
Grand Albert,
fat mad dog,
made love to a witch,
made love to a carrion crow.
He did not know; he did not recognize her
for she was an old artist.
She stuck three thorns in his fat
dog's heart, infested his neighbours.
Sometimes their thumbs ought to be
torn off - witches who do such things as
killing people and infesting neighbours.
* * *
Who Can Be Trusted
Monkey-face, Old Mace,
is a poacher. I know, I know,
he is a respectable clergyman
but I've seen him fetch a club after our
father's sheep on more than one occasion.
I've seen him in the wolf pits bandying.
He gave arsenic to Mistress Blandy.
He said she was loose of tongue but it
wasn't true, she came from a very religious
family.
God will suck the bad ones up,
God snatches the bad ones.
* * *
Still They Call It Marriage
Mother wanted me to marry -
she brought me a red-headed man,
she brought me a holy man.
I let down my hair.
I confessed to uttering spells.
Mother brought me an organ grinder
who married me thinking I had money.
I had nothing but a good-luck charm.
I had supernatural power.
I did not want to play the organ -
I had no wish to marry. I wanted to
dance with the young men in town -
I wanted to dance till they hunted me town
* * *
The Idiots and the Beersoakers
They are in charge of the revels at
Five Miles from Anywhere - No hurry,
Our room had a headless skeleton in the
cupboard - it terrified Matthew so much
he could hardly sleep.
Oh Matthew, Matthew! God will turn your
body to stone before the night is over,
I have seen you playing a game of chance,
talking strangely to your silent partner,
walking arm in arm with your strange partner.
* * *
Grey Ladies
I am disfigured by wounds,
Annie Walker. Mutilated,
Margaret Evans.
Ladies of shade, of shadow and
darkness; grey ladies and brown ladies
attend me.
I go into witch country with a
dowry of wild cattle. No neck,
tiny legs and tongueless in a wet
winter - who would marry it?
I have Godrich fifteen children -
still he beheaded me for adultery.
* * *
Like War, Like Marriage
Isobel, Isobel
let in no lovers.
Are you still faithful on your
death bed? Are you letting it happen?
Isobel, death is sly.
You should not wear white,
you should not paint your face or
show a leg to the male nurses.
Death wants to share everything.
He wants to get under the covers
he wants to get on
he's painting to get on.
Displaying 1 of 1 review