Milton Acorn (1923–1986)

This is a short book of poetry, short conversations, and PEI history. Quite a lot of it centres around PEI's struggle for independence. Many came to PEI escaping Ireland only to find the same sort of absentee landlord situation they had fled from. That had to be mighty galling. Talk about kicking someone while they are down! I think if you have a connection to PEI you would love this book. I enjoyed it but might have enjoyed it a bit more had some of the names been familiar. Among some of the favourite tidbits I picked up: The mystery of the town of Princetown, which simply disappeared. There is a site (with roads but no buildings). At some point it had been nearly the capital, and then suddenly was wiped from the history with no reason given for its disappearance. Possibly an Acadian eviction. 'It might be useful to go to the site of Princetown and dig. I'll bet such a project would meet resistance. Somebody knows'. This book was written a while ago, so perhaps the history of Princetown is being reconstructed.

Also interesting were tidbits about the backhanded/sneaky way the islanders behaved.. constructing their roads so that they could ambush tax collectors, and when forced to build tributes putting hidden messages in them:

From the Poem 'Interpretation of a Cannon' (pg. 74)
.. the corner of Queen and Grafton,
Charlettown, Prince Edward Island:
Which reads:
British Cannon
18 pounder
Placed here by Theophilus Des Brissay
July 1860
On the occasion of the visit of the
Prince of Wales...
But Fort Amber fell 90 years before
to a combined assault of Acadians and Micmacs
and where was the cannon all that time?
....
And 'Theophilus Des Brissay.. His name
(Though there was actually such a man 50 years before)
Can be translated:
'Theo' = 'God'
'Philus' = 'Lord'
'Des Brissay' = 'Smash'er'
'For the Love of God Smash'er.'… (mehr)