The poems in this collection are beautifully written. Among the subjects Atwood deals with are longing, dreams, the passing of time, and the death of a father. A longer poem titled "Half-hanged Mary" describes several hours in the life of Mary Webster, a woman "who was accused of witchcraft in the 1680s...in Massachusetts and hanged from a tree" (p. 58). What is startling about this story is that Mary was left hanging all night, but did not die. In fact, after being cut down "she lived for another fourteen years" (p. 58).
Leatherby Libraries Call Number: PR9199.3.A8 M67 1995b
2nd Floor Humanities Library
Review submitted by: Stacy Russo, Chair of Public Services, Leatherby Libraries
Rating: Recommended
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