The Ballad of Rip Coyle
by JP McMenamin
听
鈥楾was a sunny day in Derry
A dog chewed at a bone
Minding his own business
Outside his happy home.
听
Rip Coyle, was the small dog鈥檚 name
He was loyal, staunch and true
He wagged his little stumpy tail
As he gave the bone a chew.
听
A cuttie, skipped along the street
With a cruel look in her eye
This cuttie, never told the truth
She would rather tell a lie.
听
She knelt down by the little dog
And tried to steal his bone
Rip Coyle, gave a little growl
鈥淟eave my bone alone.鈥
听
The cuttie鈥檚 eye was mean and sly
She did not like the hound
So the cuttie, then devised a plan
To get the dog put down.
听
She made a grab at Rip Coyle鈥檚 bone
Then pulled her hand away
Rip Coyle, gave a little snap
Not in anger, more in play.
听
The cuttie, gave an awful howl
And ran home to her mum
鈥淩ip Coyle bit me鈥 screamed the girl
Holding up an unmarked thumb.
听
Her mother, jumped up in alarm
And headed down the street
Like Godzilla in a floral dress
Carpet slippers on her feet.
听
鈥淚鈥檒l have the law on you鈥 she
roared
鈥淭hat dog bit my wee girl鈥
Mrs Coyle made no reply
Her head was in a whirl.
听
Behind the door, a small boy stood
Corduroy knickers to his knee
In time he would be Mr Coyle
But now, he was quite wee.
听
鈥淲hat shall I do?鈥 said little Sean
鈥淚f they take wee Rip away?鈥
鈥淲ho will run and fetch the ball?
When I go out to play.鈥
听
The small boy stood on spindly legs
Rickets is a bad disease
He had an infection in his eye
And cuts upon his knees.
听
A man came with a little van
To take wee Rip away
Wee Sean, fell down on his knees
To St Francis, he did pray.
听
They tied a rope around Rip鈥檚 neck
And dragged him from his home
No more he鈥檇 join in children鈥檚 games
No more, wee Rip would roam.
听
Wee Rip, dug in his little paws
But all to no avail
Wee Rip Coyle was arrested
And locked up in a jail.
听
Rip鈥檚 case came up before the court
The cuttie, told her lies
The judge, put on his old black cap
There were tears in wee Sean鈥檚 eyes.
听
鈥淩ip Coyle鈥 said the old, fat judge
鈥淵ou are a guilty hound
May the Lord have mercy on your soul
When you鈥檙e buried in the ground.鈥
听
Wee Rip, was lead down from the dock
His time on earth was gone
He sadly wagged his little tail
When he saw his friend 鈥 wee Sean.
听
On a wet and windy morning
Poor wee Rip Coyle passed away
Another martyr for old Ireland
No more, will wee Rip play.
听
A change came over wee Sean Coyle
He was not a happy lad
His brow was dark and furrowed
His eyes were dead and sad.
听
鈥淚 wont be hurt again鈥 said Sean
鈥淚鈥檒l never give my heart
It hurts too much to love a dog
And then to sadly-part.
听
Another change came over Sean
A great respect for law and order
He bought his petrol in the town
He wouldn鈥檛 cross the border.
听
He became a vigilante
The scourge of litter louts
鈥淭he laws the law鈥 he鈥檇 always say
He never had no doubts.
听
But sometimes, when he鈥檚 in his bed
He thinks of little Rip
Tears run down his noble face
A trembling of the lip.
听
Wee Rip Coyle was innocent
And yet he had to die
Wee Sean, cries into his pillow
And softly whispers- 鈥淲hy?鈥
Dog Gone.
听
芦
back
听
|
