It was a hundred years ago
in a village, they called Uley
a lady called Alyce Cunningham lived
with an ape as tame as she
in a village, they called Uley
a lady called Alyce Cunningham lived
with an ape as tame as she
John Daniel her ape was her only thought
and she nurtured him tenderly
with the local children, he went to school
in that village school in Uley
and she nurtured him tenderly
with the local children, he went to school
in that village school in Uley
And he had a great life, a luxury life
this ape was a VIP
at parties, he shone but then it went wrong
when John grew as big as a tree.
this ape was a VIP
at parties, he shone but then it went wrong
when John grew as big as a tree.
Though Alyce loved John, and her love was strong
to a circus, she sold him you see
America bound his hopes were drowned
as he sailed on a ship on the sea.
to a circus, she sold him you see
America bound his hopes were drowned
as he sailed on a ship on the sea.
They shut him up in a cage below deck
on his trip to the land of the free
he pined and cried but his love survived
for Alyce and lovely Uley
on his trip to the land of the free
he pined and cried but his love survived
for Alyce and lovely Uley
One year went by but then John would die
'My broken heart's wronged,' cried he -
'by my circus life, all sorrow and strife
'My broken heart's wronged,' cried he -
'by my circus life, all sorrow and strife
when I used to be loved and happy.'
© S. O. Fasrus
Memorial for cider-swilling ape that charmed a Cotswold village
S.O. Fasrus: Social Justice Campaigner & Social Research Interviewer. Her verse and poems; some comic; satirical; and serious; can be found online. Recent poems are in New Verse News, Culture Matters, and Poems for Grenfell Tower.
Memorial for cider-swilling ape that charmed a Cotswold village
S.O. Fasrus: Social Justice Campaigner & Social Research Interviewer. Her verse and poems; some comic; satirical; and serious; can be found online. Recent poems are in New Verse News, Culture Matters, and Poems for Grenfell Tower.
