The Bishop's Tale (or What the Butler Seeth Not) Prologue This is a storey tall and quite fantastical Concerning a man quite ecclesiastical Of high standing, a pillar of society But not always known for complete sobriety The Bishop of Southwark is his name, And this dear friends is his tale of shame The Logue He attendeth a ceremony in Londinium Town Clad in cassock suplice and gown Hosted by the embassy Hibernian The food was plenty and port a-flowing But before the night yet was old The guests were cast out into the cold There was no miracle that night, of whiskey into wine Notwithstanding the bishop took this for a sign That further imbibing was what was required So into the night the prelaat retired To Londinium Brydge by underground train Near the Cathederal in Crucifix Lane To the inn of Shuchard; barred not was he Where most like he did drink and pee But lo whilst stepping out to breathe the even air An Angel of the Lord didst appear "Fear not" was all he heard before Hitting his head, hard upon the floor. For this angel, though not truly bad Was known to be a bit of a lad For we are in the noughties And he a naughty angel be He thought he would have a little fun At the expense of God's holy one Briefcase and phone just vanished from sight Leaving his Grace shaking with fright This brought on a kind of seizure And, as he later recalled, selective amnesia (This of course is an oxymoron but by then the Bishop was too far gone) For full five minutes there he lay 'Til he awoke in much dismay Then guided by a three-pointed star He came apon a Germanic car By miracle or some other means He stole into the back of this machine Where were stored a multitude of toys Divers for gyrls and divers for boys But there was only one plaything he sought The Sindys and Barbies would count for nought Oft called Teddy though sometime Rowan Even to Elvis Presley known The type of toy common to man Found in England, Peru and Sudan An ursa minor of the stuffed kind 'Twas what he hath need to find For God had raised him to this high position So as to undertake a New Commission To Christen bears and give new name Before the infidels could do the same So prevent the bear from being harméd By calling him after the Prophet Mohammed All other toys were cast to the ground Until the little furry one was found But before he could baptise the wee bear The car's alarum pircered the aire The owner from the inn soon appeared Not believing his eyes nor ears Toys on the pavement and toys on the road And a man and teddy bear praying to the Lord Thought he veraily performed the will of God Though drink was in the very sod For though he was ordained a viker He behaved more like a bleeding biker From the car he falleth on his ers Emitting soto voce a possible curse I am the Bishop of Southwark this is what I do Baptising bears in the religion true Cardinal Saveloy |
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