A Chimney Sweep’s Lament
By John H Thomas Jr

Perched like a crow on a rooftop
High above the graveyard ground
Works a disjointed puppet
Whose character might be found
In a middle-ages comic strip
Right from olde London Towne
Its pages filled with castle keeps
Robin Hood and chimney sweeps

See the people down below
who wonder as they stare
At the antics and shenanigans
Of the silhouetted man
With face and hands just as black
As the top hat that he wears
He goes easily and facelessly
In the early morning air

With ladders placed precariously
Against chimneys old and worn
And a cold fall wind a’blowin’ hard
Through clothing black and torn
Ahhh, rung by rung he climbs on up
To knock on heaven’s door
But one false step will have him hear
Gabrielle on his horn

A red carnation on his hat
A smile on his face
Here comes the cosmic chimney sweep
To save the human race
From possible destruction
By an alien enemy
Insidious invaders
Who attack your chim-i-ney

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He’s just like a super hero
From another place and time
He comes equipped with brushes
To save your home and mine
From the ravages of fire
In a chimney choked with soot
No thanks he asks for what he does
Brave fellow, God bless you

He wars on ash and creosote
Those evil ones of old
But old there’re just as powerful
Today day as days of yore
Call your friendly neighborhood chimney sweep
Black armored knight so bold
Who’ll save your home and set you free
From fire’s mis - ery

So, if your chimney needs a cleaning fast
Well, he’s the one to see
He’ll come riding down that pillar of smoke
Rising from your chim-i-ney
On an ancient wizard’s coal black mare
Gleaming starlight in his eyes
Like the smell of pumpkin on autumn’s breath
He’ll quietly materialize