Terry Ireland Poet Rhyme

Parrots At the Earl De Grey

At one time it was said
From Hull to Valparaiso,
Or  any deep sea port
Any Mariner might know,
You could find a body who’d
Heard of the old Earl de Grey,
Many had even been there
On an onshore off duty day.

They’d talk of the girls
Offering friendship to all
And of the famous parrots
On their perches by the wall.   
Fluent in their language
Freely cursing all and sundry
Regardless of their gender, 
Colour creed or country.

It was rumoured they were sold
To a more refined type of place
But after a just few weeks 
Were returned in disgrace.
Their partnership sadly ended 
By a nervous burglar’s blade
One being killed to silence any
Statement it may have made.

The survivor then fell silent,
No more cursing one and all,
Apparently in mourning for
It’s partner's sad downfall.
So those cursing Parrots
Came to an uncertain end
But to a certain generation
They are  a vivid local legend.

The Pub’s now just a memory,
The old docks long gone
The building still stands but
Times have moved steadily on.
New developments are planned 
And although it’s still here
There’s quite a chance 
It may soon now disappear.

But, I like to think maybe
Some far away tavern’s host
Is regaled by their tale
And they all drink a toast
To the famous cursing parrots
At the Old Earl de Grey
And more innocent days
Before time swept them away.

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