Pegleg Gull

 
As we wandered down the beach this morn

my dad, my brother, and I,

we saw a scraggly weathered gull

go slowly flying by.

Landing near his feathered friends

just a ways ahead,

we saw him peck and chase them all

for just a crumb of bread.

I pulled some crackers from my pack

I'll feed those hungry birds,

and suddenly the whole flock came

as though they heard my words.

They circled round and landed near,

and squawked as if to beg.

That's when we noticed the scraggly gull

stood on a single leg.

'Twas then my dad reached to his cheek

to touch an ancient scar,

and a funny look came to his eyes

like he was looking far.

And then he said, "Guys listen close,

I've a tale about that cull".

"I met that bird once long ago,

his name is Pegleg Gull".

 On this same beach not far from here

when I was only ten,

I was with your uncle Bob

and your uncle Ben.

We were hunting for a crab that day

to take home for a pet,

but then we saw young Pegleg Gull

tangled in a net.

Young Pegleg Gull was tangled like

a knot you couldn't tie.

We knew he didn't have a chance,

if we left him he would die.

So Ben grabbed Pegleg by the wings,

we would try to save his life.

And while I struggled with the knots,

Bob ran to get his knife.

I undid all the knots I could

as fast as I could go,

until I got down to his leg,

it was tangled so badly though.

I couldn't get the knots undone,

and the leg was broken to.

Then Bob said "Hey, let's cut it off,

don't know what else to do".

And so it was that very morn

that Pegleg came to be

a single legged angry gull,

and he blamed it all on me.

Cause when Ben let go of his wings,

although Pegleg was weak,

before he flew off to the sky,

he bit me on my cheek.

And that's why Pegleg Gull stands with

a single leg in place,

and that's the story why I have

this scar upon my face.

Is that a true, true story Dad ?

I really want to know.

Do seagulls really live that long,

that was so long ago.

'Twas then that Pegleg Gull flew up

and snatched my cracker bag,

and then flew off with all the gulls,

wings flapping like a flag.

And then my dad walked down the beach,

and looked off towards the sky.

But before he turned his head, I saw

a twinkle in his eye.

(Copyright by CFLsurf.com, 2005, all rights reserved.)

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