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Letter to the editor

At long last, the Innocent bystander is revealed

The shy woman wrote her witty, poetic commentary in the Times from 1979 to 1983.

By Stephanie Hayes, Times Staff Writer
Published February 24, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT Blanche MacGowan wrote light poems in the St. Petersburg's Times Floridian section under the pseudonym "Innocent Bystander" for four years in the early 80s. She died in Hudson last week at age 94. [Family photo]

HUDSON - Innocent Bystander wrote a weekly poem from 1979 to 1983 in the St. Petersburg Times.

Innocent Bystander followed current events, subscribing to the New York Times, Timeand Newsweek. Headlines fueled Innocent Bystander's poetry - like the time a malfunctioning computer said that the United States was under attack by Soviet missiles.

If man and computer should open the door, through error, of course, to all-out war, small comfort these words, from a voice strangely flat: "Oops. Sorry about that."

Innocent Bystander was a liberal and a pacifist who clearly had no use for Ronald Reagan.

First comes the statement, then up go the hands; explicit details are reporter's demand. And when quips as responses don't satisfy, after perusing the statement, with careful eye, it's hoped the president won't answer one day: "It doesn't say."

Innocent Bystander was a feminist. But was Innocent Bystander male or female? Many readers guessed, but no one knew.

In days of old when men were bold and knighthood was in flower, a knight knew he must strike to free a damsel in a tower. Men think that knight was not quite right for his lofty deed turned sour. That prize of his is known as Ms. and fights for Woman Power.

Innocent Bystander had a clever sense of humor, and collected old quotes, like this one: "You can't be too rich or too thin."

To being "too rich" but few of us aspire; there are values that we place much higher. But with the price of food at such a peak, there's comfort: we can at least be one half chic.

Innocent Bystander enjoyed holidays.

Present are great, as a general rule, but some of them strain the spirit of yule. It's part of the season, as everyone learns, and so I wish for all of you happy returns.

Innocent Bystander belonged to the Episcopalian church, believed in God and the afterlife, and thought that everyone went to heaven because hell didn't exist. One poem challenged atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair.

Madalyn O'Hair is a strong foe of prayer, but prayer will out wear Madalyn O'Hair.

Innocent Bystander's identity was never revealed to readers.

* * *

Innocent Bystander was a woman, born in 1913. She was married to a marketing executive, Thomas, and had one son, Thomas Jr.

Innocent Bystander was shy, and had exquisite grammar, manners and speech. The writers of New York City's Algonquin Roundtable, like Dorothy Parker and Alexander Wolcott, inspired her.

Innocent Bystander was a member of the United World Federalists. Though she was less politically active in old age, a couple of years ago, she wrote a letter to Congress opposing the war in Iraq.

Innocent Bystander lived in Akron, Ohio, where she also wrote a newspaper column of poetry and light prose. She moved to Beacon Woods in Hudson with her husband for retirement in 1972. She showed her old works to the St. Petersburg Times, which agreed to run her poetry in what was then Floridian magazine.

Innocent Bystander's husband, 12 years her senior, died in 1989. She spent the next 19 years attending meetings of a Hudson writers group, helping young writers develop their skills.

Innocent Bystander took a fall in September, and her health went downhill. She died Feb. 13. She was 94.

Innocent Bystander's son says it's time she got credit.

Innocent Bystander was Blanche MacGowan.

Stephanie Hayes can be reached at shayes@sptimes.com or 727 893-8857.

BIOGRAPHY

Innocent Bystander

Born: March 9, 1913.

Died: Feb. 13, 2008.

Survivors: son, Thomas MacGowan Jr.

[Last modified February 23, 2008, 23:12:16]