They Hung A Monkey! Poem by Bob Gibson

Washed up along old Hartlepool's! shore
a uniformed, bedraggled, stevedore
a sailor from a foreign coast
not speaking English was the toast!

A spy! from France the sergeant held
in to the cells he was expelled
word got out through out the town
the lord Mayor came, but with a frown!

towns people from near and far
wanted to cover him in tar!
not a word did they understand
from this uniformed brigand!

Hang him from the highest tree
Hartlepool people did decree!
and so they hung the foreign spy
from a rope that dangled high

this tale has been told so many times
and facts have been altered along with rhymes
Hartlepool still has plenty of rope
but if you have an accent there is no hope!

They hung a monkey! there was no doubt
because in a foreign tongue did shout
what kind of monkey? you may suppose
one with a tail and pointy nose?

A powder monkey, was a young boy
who filled the cannons with such joy
but a mascot dressed in naval garb
was a monkey! most! sorry Sarb!