I’ve three poems in The Book of Ten which is to be launched by Zebra Publications at the Cumberland Arms on Thursday November 19th.

All three poems revolve around Mary Ann Cotton. Incidentally the definitive book on Cotton is Arthur Appleton’s ‘Mary Ann Cotton’ published in 1973. It is out-of-print but Amazon or Ebay may reveal the odd copy.

MARY ANN COTTON was hung in Durham Jail in March, 1873. She allegedly poisoned 21 of her family, including her children.

Here’s the children’s rhyme some might recall:

“She’s dead and she’s dead rotten
She lies in her bed
With her eyes wide oppen.
Sing, sing oh what can I sing?
Mary Cotton is tied up with string.
Where. Where? Up in the air
Sellin’ black puddens a penny a pair.”

And here’s one of my poems that will appear in the Book of Ten.

Arsenic in Broth

Loved aa few men,
gave everything
but there again
that’s not aa sin.

Aa woman’s place:
stuck in th’ home,
but there’s disgrace
when ya alone.

Arsenic in broth
is tha full stop.

Tom Kelly