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Robin - Erithacus rubecula
- The sack of Baltimore -
Midsummer 1631
Was expected to be quiet
A bird that whispered cautious songs
Announcing only end of night
Baltimore it lay there waiting
In a peaceful silent way
While moon and sun did argue
For length of time and day
As years have gone and years to come
The harbour it was known
For comfort and security
While stormy winds where growing
Those vagrants and those strangers
Through Roaring waters, waves and winds
Were swept up to Clear Islands Cape
Again, again and ever since
Unless that day in 31
When the singing bird got struck
As the silent boat moved in
Bringing villagers bad luck
From Algiers it was they came
Past Gibraltar moving north
Morat Rais was the name
Of that pirate without a heart
A boat was stolen in Dungarvan
Under captain Hackett it set sail
230 Ottoman pirates
Passed the Old Head of Kinsale
By surprise he took the town
In a nightmare they were caught
Lives forever lost in slavery
To his gallay they were brought
Stephen Broddebrooke he stood up
For his pregnant woman’s pride
And his little boy and girl
In vain he tried to hide
Tim Curlew and John Davies
Were both brave and strong
But the Turkish swords did slaughter
And their blood spread all around
A hundred or more people lost
That night in 31
The most horrifying sack
That ever has been done
In the quiet town of Baltimore
Where in the blood and tears still warm
The bird it pledged and painted the heart
For to witness of this harm
The robin born, he started singing
This sad story in his lonely song
And when you listen you can hear it
From evening, night till morning long
8
November 2006 |
