The Strange Saga Of Quoth, The Parrot (a Political Poe-m)

[roxhythe]

Inspired by a kid I saw at the high school speech tournament yesterday, walking around with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder. I guess it's one of those inspiring images that stays with you, 'cause it stayed long enough for me to pen this. (And of course it's a parody. I don't think I've written any totally original poetry in a long time.)

oe

THE STRANGE SAGA OF QUOTH, THE PARROT (A POLITICAL POE-M)

--J. Wrabek

1.

Stood I a shoreline convoluted

(It and I severe polluted),

Holding up a pile of driftwood

While I answered Nature’s call;

Come a parrot, both wings broken,

Drawing near where I was soakin’

And I understood what he was croakin’

Through the fury of his call:

Quoth the parrot: “Screw them all.”

2.

Now, I'm no avian defender

but I had to give this bird a gander--

Flightless parrot? In November?

Sounding so political?

I sorta peered in his direction

And asked that bird 'bout the election,

Staggered t’hear what I was half-expectin’,

Three short words that said it all:

Quoth the parrot: "Screw them all."

3.

We went barhopping sometime later,

Me and my new commentator,

Got free drinks most everywhere

(And I believe I drank ‘em all);

They’d ask: Who’d harm a bird like that?

Republican or Democrat?

The parrot never answered that,

Just intoned his angry call

Over and over: “Screw them all.”

4.

Well, I don’t know if my parrot-totin’

Changed a single person’s votin’,

Or inspired any extra loathin’

As stocks and bonds and markets fall,

But I swear should that bird predecease me,

I’ll find a stone and carve it neatly

With the words by which he’d greet me,

Broken-winged but standing tall:

Quoth the parrot: “Screw them all.”

© 2008 J. Wrabek dba Outside Services Ltd. all the usual rights reserved just in case. With half-hearted apologies to ol’ Edgar Allen, who may not care very much ‘cause he’s dead. No parrots were harmed in the writing of this poem.

[Lazz]

I am very fond of political parroty - and this is a welcome addition, Joe.

Thanks.

[roxhythe]

Thanks, Lazz. I have quoted you extensively, I think.

I got a suggestion on another writers' site I subscribe to that I put this to music, so I did. Came out kind of a tqalking blues. URL, for what it may be worth, is http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_sopng...;songID=7021485.

And thanks.

Joe

Edited October 31, 2008 by roxhythe

[Lazz]

Thanks, Lazz. I have quoted you extensively, I think.

"Screw them all" does come pretty close, I agree