“The Baiter” Raymond Craig - Gourdon joiner and business man, son of John Craig Cauld, callused fing-ers, Sheel-blade-hackit, A peenie roond hir waist, An auld chair back, a baisin, The past ten - twenty yeer she’s faced. Grey, woollen shawl aroond hir heid, Haiter at hir feet A skull, a line, a mussel troch, Twelve hunder heuks – Oh, what a thocht!
Meg Anne Craig/Smith Margaret/Meg Anne was the oldest child of Joseph Craig and Mag Gowan, his wife. She was my grandfather, Adam’s sister and would be the great, great aunt of the writer of this poem. She is pictured here baiting a line, mussels on the baiting board over a basin, scull with rows of baited hooks to her right. However, the baiter referred to in Raymond’s poem is actually his paternal grandmother, Bella Craig.
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