Very Good Thief Words and music by Catherine Faber © 1993To the guild my parents gave me, Weeping with self-pity and grief; Thieves who aren't very good go hungry; I will be a very good thief. At a bell-hung purse they bade us practice, As new fighters work at pells. Thieves who aren't very good are beaten; Soon I never rang the bells. They made us climb over walls and fences, Brought in dogs to shorten our time. Thieves who aren't very good get bitten; Like a squirrel I could climb. They taught us how a lock is opened; Clever fingers work with speed. Thieves who aren't very good are punished; I became very good indeed. And every time we wept or raged, We heard again the reason why; Thieves who aren't very good will find that Thieves who aren't very good will die. A taken thief enjoys such mercy: Flogged or blinded, branded, or burned. Thieves who aren't very good are scorned for Taking things they haven't earned.