Sing for the Taxman

Her characteristic wit and precision are fully in evidence in Sheenagh Pugh's latest collection of poems, Sing for the Taxman. Dedicated to the proposition that poetry must, first of all, entertain the reader, these poems give delight on first reading and pleasure upon contemplation. A day mountain climbing inspires the beautiful three-part pastoral 'Climbing Hermaness', that opens the book. In 'Five Voices', we learn about the strange and tragic execution of Lieutenant Hans Hermann von Katte in 1730, through the dramatic confessions of his intimates. Later we meet, among others, 'Mozart Playing Billiards', 'The Last Wolf in Scotland', and Guy Fawkes' girlfriend ('Remember, Remember'). Half a dozen of Sheenagh Pugh's excellent translations from the poetry of Jammes, Holty, Von Hofmannswaldau and others, round off this thoroughly enjoyable collection. "This one I got hooked on from the minute I plunged into the first poem..."Poetry Review "... among the top two or three poets of her generation writing English poetry in Wales"Poetry Wales Sheenagh Pugh is known to thousands of poetry readers for 'Sometimes', her much anthologised 'poem on the underground' and for her Selected Poems, a set text in schools. She currently lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Glamorgan, and has won numerous prizes for her work, including the Babel Prize for translation and the ACW Book of the Year in 2000.