Little Bird

come closer and hear tales of mischief! closer now, my dears
treachery, pandemonium and mayhem have left their stain once here
in this very house there were events that to this day pervade
and of their vicious evil deeds children's ears mothers oft forbade

aye! but listen to me and what i say, yes, listen to me well
this amulet that i hold is but a symbol straight from hell
for on a night much like this in many long years past
a sea-tossed wretch dropped it here before he breathed his last

oh, such a fearsome tyrant and so consumed with greed
plotted to drown his entire crew, was stopped before the deed
because a little bird sang a song with such bravery and dare
the bird told of the captain's evil plot so every soul was spared

the crew drove him across the boiling sea, left him on a reef
and taunted him, his crooked nose, and his ugly, wooden teeth
the men they sought adventure worlds beyond his wily grasp
each drank his glass - bottoms up! - and breathed his contented last

alas, this wicked sinner, he placed a curse - sold his soul - you see
that one day he might seek revenge when at last he might be free
of his rotting body scorched mercilessly in sun, beaten by the waves
no doubt he knew the end was soon, no doubt he counted the days

can you believe that fortune smiled and dealt this beast a hand?
a wayward merchant ship arrived, returned him to our land
it was a dirty tavern that saw his frame, withered from his sins
and even though he had no coin, those poor souls brought him in

they placed a bottle in his hand, a dark and bitter draught
he clutched it in his bony hand, threw back his head and laughed
those wooden teeth they pulled the cork, he drank the ocean in
before collapsing to the floor, his eyes burned embers of sin

i was there, you see, i know 'tis true, i saw and heard everything
he clutched at me accusingly, "little bird, have you come at last to sing?"
a desperate grip i have never known as he drew me by the ear
the rasping words he coughed at last have chilled me through with fear

i cannot tell you more than this, no, i'll never tell a soul
suffice to say it shook me as they dug his muddy hole
long since they have echoed through all my restless, fitful dreams
though i mustn't dwell on those ancient words nor speak of what they mean

my children, that tavern is now a house this day
this very home in which you sleep, roam, and play
but in this dusty home of ours, beneath our very feet
lies treasure concealed below that could purchase the spanish fleet!

and this strange amulet within my hand he wore until the end
though a legend holds that some dark eve it will bring him back again
it will not happen, i swear it! oh, i cannot stand the lies
such foolish things that people say, such rumors i despise

i say this not to frighten you, i love you all so dear
but children, i fear that someday as my final hour draws near
that tortured, hateful fiend he will seek my deathbed rasping
and in that fateful final chapter this message he will bring,

"little bird... have you come at last to sing?"

JellyStone Park

Last camping trip of the summer! We went tubing on the Maquoketa River, took a hayrack ride, cooked over the fire, and had some fun camping next to the river. The mosquitos welcomed us, too. Oddly enough, they seemed to disappear as soon as it got dark. Not sure what that's about it, but I'm not complaining. It was a good weekend outdoors!

Pictionary and being creepy:

I like a good sunrise: