Smugglers Pie

The body of smuggler Robert Long

Hung by the road in chains,

His flesh was mouldering from his bones

Washed clean by the Cornish rains,

The crows had taken his sorry eyes,

His wife, the gold from his teeth,

But some kind soul from near Mousehole

Had left at his feet, a wreath!

 

The Excise men ranged over the cliffs,

The Revenue men below,

And Customs Officers manned the cutters

That intercepted the flow,

They boarded the bold East Indiamen

Who sold their goods tax free,

And many a thief has come to grief

When the waves tipped them into the sea!

 

The goods that lay in the Cornish coves

Tobacco, brandy and rum,

Were smuggled up onto Bodmin Moor

And sold for a tidy sum,

The coast was riddled with tunnels, caves,

And one led into a church,

The spirits that lay in the belfry there

Were hidden away from the search!

 

Battling Bill at the Halfway House

Long lightened the nation’s purse,

He’d run his brandy up to the Inn

Using a horse-drawn hearse,

Surprised one day by the Revenue

They shot poor Bill through the neck,

But dead, his hand whipped the horses’ still

And the hearse ran away from the wreck.

 

The hearse, it rattled Polperro streets,

Rolled over the cobblestones,

With Bill stuck firm to the riding seat

Not ready to make old bones,

He drove the length of the shopping street

And straight down onto the quay,

Then toppled into the harbour there,

But his ghost came back from the sea!

 

They smuggled silk, they smuggled wine,

They smuggled bags of tea,

Whatever the King put taxes on

The Cornish smuggled for free,

A convict ship to Australia

Was the worst that most of them got,

Apart from the likes of Robert Long

As he hung in his chains, to rot!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Veronica Chandler]

Such a pleasure to read your works, and I must say I have missed them this past month! This piece was a delightful read which painted such clear imagery. I could see poor Bill's corpse bouncing on the horse drawn hearse down the cobbled stones; the way you have with words always seems to take me on journeys as though propelled by a song to end, and before I know it, I reached the end. I find the sheer volume of your works astonishing, but it is even more extraordinary because each one is a master piece!

[Foxemerald]

I cannot help but to feel some type of strange, ironic pity for poor Robert Long, who did not have the benefit of freedom like the other smugglers. It seems that fortune and chance had glide over him during that length of time, in spite of the smugglers running wild- and he could not keep up with the other smugglers! Between the surprise Revenues in the Halfway House, Bill riding down the cobblestones- dead as a doornail, mind you- and the many variations of taking goods beneath the Revenue's 'careful eye,' I think Long had it coming to him, really. Perhaps he was overseeing his own ironic situation- a representation for the rest of the jaded characters no doubt. Great characterization.

[James Hanna-Magill]

Lovely!

[James Hanna-Magill]

David, The above with a smile at myself having acquired the reputation on this site for writing a book in my reviews. I am trying to lose the habit, honest! In a sense of well meant fun, Top Reviewer to Top Writer, James

[David Lewis Paget]

Your reviews are more than appreciated here, James, whether one word or a thousand, lol.

[JM Russell]

Wonderful work. I can see why you won. As usual you have such a way with words and the way you describe things. You weave such a story in your poetry. I love to read your poems.

[Stella Armour]

flowed beautifully and such a Cornish tale..i could easily visualize that coffin bumping over the cobblestones.I did wonder David... how you came to be in Australia...lol

[carol burgess romance]

I love your history lessons...love your work...master of the Muse

[kmartell]

you are like an historical version of Bukowski. where can I get one of your books?

[LapseOfMind]

I really enjoyed this, a poetic tale of smuggling. Great job!!

[SyberRose]

Wonderful amazing poetry David and vivid images also...and congratulations on your win in the competition.

Enjoyed...Rose

[Onku Ghosh]

A winner all the way.I like your vivid descriptions.... the way in which everything comes to life.One feels as if everything is happening in front of ones eyes.Brilliant write and wonderful narration.Just love to read you.