Dead Fred

They brought Fred home in a winding sheet, But apart from that he looked a treat. When he’d taken a turn just the week before, The doc had suggested a week by the shore And there with the wind and sun on his face And his left leg strapped in a metal brace He’d set out to sea in his small wooden boat To travel the length of the whole east coast. But the blow of the wind blew him off course For the wind did blow with a mighty force. His boat was upturned and out he fell Taking with him the little ship’s bell. He raised it high and shook it long But nobody heard its little ding-dong. And when at last his arm grew weak Hope of a rescue turned more than bleak. The little bell fell from out of his hand Down through the sea and on to the sand. The metal brace on his stiff left leg Became nothing more than a rusty peg. But he managed to get his left leg free And that like the bell fell right through the sea. He did his best to stay afloat To be saved by a passing boat. But sad to say none came that day And alone in the sea Fred passed away. As the tide flowed in to the east coast shore Fred found himself on his own no more For a decent crowd had gathered round At the spot on the beach where he’d been found. He liked attention did our Fred, So what a shame he’s now quite dead. They brought him home in a winding sheet, He was nice and tanned and looked a treat. So his trip to the sea hadn’t all been bad. It’s just the ending that is sad - For Fred in his winding sheet. Written December 11th, 2001 © on Dec 11 2001 02:23 AM PST   0 • 14