'Charlie'              Come home to roost           On Scarborough Beach, in ninety five        We noticed Charlie first arrive        Three years he perched in his cabinet home        That bird was not inclined to roam.        For although you'd never see him fly        He'd talk to every passer by        And so we thought, he seemed content        In the lovely seaside environment.             Alas, one black night in ninety eight        Some feckless rogues, ordained his fate.        We were not sure, if an escape was staged        Or if he'd simply been en-caged?        As time passed, I later heard        A man say, 'At Margate, I've seen that bird!'        And so many times he'd been mistook        For a familiar posture on the Hornibrook.	2.           After that, the trail went cold        And until much later, the tale unfold.        New tenants, to Margate came around        And in the tenement, was Charlie found.        His finer qualities, they had ignored        In fact, they made him their notice board        Set up on a light pole, for all to hale        And to beckon folk to a garage sale.            His indignity, was plain for all to see        Lying upside down, against a tree.        But pedigree, can't be denied        In this pitiful state, was Charlie spied        By a discerning lady, who made a bid        All she paid, was just four quid!        A bargain, she thought, she had gained        But for the price of being framed.         The quote, you see, her senses floored        So in her garage, was Charlie stored.        Later when she took three months leave        Charlie gained a new reprieve        He was billeted with her Asian friends        But this is not where the story ends.        He sat on their front porch, in the blazing sun        Played with the children and had lots of fun.         When Charlie's lady came home from abroard        She set his fortunes, to be restored        For she had decided again, to frame his plume        And to make him a feature, of her living room.        So off to the Framer Charlie went        Prepared for his special refurbishment        But while he waited against the wall        His old friend, Tricia, chanced to call.	3.         'Charlie! ...What are you doing here?        And why on earth did you disappear?'        The circumstances, she thought she knew        And quickly called the Boys in Blue.        'Charlie' - she said, 'Come home to roost        It would give our morale a welcome boost'.        At Scarborough Fair, we all rejoiced        And yelled 'Three Cheers'  for Tricia Reust.       Charlie's old beach has been freshly cleaned        And all his feathers are neatly preened.        Now should You covet Charlie for your very own        And have an urge, to take him home        Be sure to make your credentials sound        This pelican is renowned, for miles around.        As for Charlie! ... He thinks it all a farce        And he's just content to scratch his #### !.                                                     Rodd Sherwin   ©
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