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Black Mary - of Happy Land fame

Holt, Edward P., 1871, Watercolour
Black Mary - of Happy Land fame
Black Mary - of Happy Land fame
Black Mary - of Happy Land fame
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Category
Library Item
Item no
11297
Title
Black Mary - of Happy Land fame
Description
The poet, Donald Campbell has written a poem inspired by this character by Holt:

Black Mary

Black Mary of the Happy Land*
is often hard, yet always fair.
The tenants under her command
will find no trace of weakness there.

Strong liquor she can never bear
and likewise laudanum is banned.
No bully boys could ever scare
Black Mary of the Happy Land

Her neighbours know her to be kind
with tenderness enough to spare.
And yet the lady of Leith Wynd
is often hard, though always fair.

Kindness aside, she never planned
to shelter those in deep despair.
The tenants of the Happy Land
will find no trace of weakness there.


*A low dive in Leith Wynd, possibly a brothel.
Artist / maker
Date
1871
Size
13.7 x 10.6 cm
Location
Edinburgh and Scottish Collection
Rights and purchasing
Option
Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG
£5.80(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF
£29.40(inc. VAT 20%)
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