The Black Death
The Black Death
It came without warning, it swept through the town
One day you were up, the next day you’re down
It came to the poor, it came to the rich
You might feel the bite, you might feel the itch
It might kill the whole family, it might spare one or two
By the time you saw symptoms it was too late for you
You might live for days or a few weeks instead
You might feel good at breakfast and by dinner you’re dead
It came from the East and moved on to the coast
Then into the cities; the rats were the hosts
They traveled the Silk Road with the vast caravans
Their fleas were infected across Europe’s lands
And once in the cities, the rats stayed to feed
And the plague was soon spreading and spreading with speed
The bodies soon littered each alley and street
Till they carted them off like slabs of dead meat
They buried some bodies in a communal pit
Then burned their belongings to get rid of it
And then it was over; not as quick as it came
And the vast devastation had earned its sad name
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