Swallows & Amazons

Jack Merlot

Swallows & Amazons

by Jack Merlot

copyright 2009 all rights reserved

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she cut a fine figure in those hospital scrubs
and when I saw her I knew she’d be mine
but that was before she met the jack of clubs
before she took to drinking moonshine

she spoke of dignity, valor and victory
defeat and compassion and squalor
humility, honor, integrity
while chasing my every last dollar

capistrano, that’s where they sent her
turned to a little bird, just like her mother
capistrano, was what the policewoman said
that’ll save her from Big Brother

capistrano, was that a blessing
tell me, what else was there to steal
sideswiped by a drunk on the way to safe haven
with an arrogant angel at the wheel

I cast a dark spell to clip her wings
three weeks out to calm her down
blind luck was the fortune her felines would bring
as the story was told around town

I played the dark knight as that ship set sail
but I should’ve been patient and sober
my satellites picked up on a tiny detail
driving me to a blood-red October

capistrano, that’s where they sent her
turned to a little bird, just like her mother
capistrano, was what the policewoman said
that’ll save her from Big Brother

capistrano, was that a blessing
tell me, what else was there to steal
sideswiped by a drunk on the way to safe haven
with an arrogant angel at the wheel

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In loving memory of Betty Broadbent. (not Betty Rizzo.)