And He Is Now A Wiser Boy Poem by Francis Duggan

In sunlit park beside the sea a seven year old boy
Chased after seagulls up and down and chuckled loud with joy
They let him get so near to them but seagulls are too wise
And they flapped their wings and flew up to the safety of the skies.

They land some fifty yards away he's after them once more
But they repeated what they'd done some fifty times before
He's out of breath his legs grow tired he has run out of steam
And catching birds no easy game or so to him 'twould seem.

He rest beside a leafy tree and sleep there in the shade
On ground by him ham sandwiches his mum for him had made
And as he sleep the seagulls come and gather all around
Could that be food in plastic bag near little boy on ground?

One seagull braver than the rest snatches the bag and fly
And after him the others chase and their noise wake up the boy
He find his sandwiches have gone and tears begin to flow
And he leave the park a sadder boy and home to mummy go.

'He Sobs' whilst I slept by a tree the sea birds stole my food
But his mum feel out of sorts today and in unsympathetic mood
She show him little sympathy but smack his face and say
I did not make you sandwiches for birds to steal away.

The seagulls had the final laugh they ate his ham and bread
And he is now a wiser boy the little fellow Fred
And next time he goes in the park before he has his fun
He'll eat up all his sandwiches then after sea birds run.