Maude, Caitlín

Ireland, (1941-1982)

The Day the Pig Was Killed

  1. I lay on my bed
  2. on a fine spring morning
  3.  
  4. I lay on my bed
  5. under a coverlet of kisses
  6.  
  7. I lay there without
  8. bothering my head
  9. about my newly gained status
  10. – a first class degree.
  11.  
  12. I lay there in bed
  13. as snug as a bug
  14.  
  15. when the shriek tore like a knife
  16. my nest in the heart of the rug
  17. and the kiss tore from my heart
  18. the knife in the heart of the pig.

 Caitlín Maude. Caitlín Maude, Dánta. Baile A´tha Cliath: Coisce´im (1984).

About the Poet:

Caitlín Maude, Ireland, (1941-1982) was a poet, activist, educator, actress and traditional singer. Maude attended University College Galway, where she excelled in French. She became a teacher and was also widely praised as an actress at the University, the Taibhdhearc in Galway and the Damer in Dublin. Maude was also a playwright and co-authored An Lasair Choille with poet Michael Hartnett.

As a member of the Dublin Irish-speaking community, Maude was active in many campaigns, including the establishment of the Gaelscoil (Irish-medium primary school) Scoil Santain in Tallaght, County Dublin. She was a sean-nós singer of distinction. She made one album in this genre, Caitlín (1975), now available as a CD. It contains both traditional songs and a selection of her poetry. [DES-11/19]