The Eel Of St Ives

There’s a well known tale of an enormous eel,
That can be seen off the coast of St Ives,
The locals say it’s twenty feet long,
And makes fishermen fear for their lives.

Its body is black with fins down its back,
And its eyes are a sickening red,
Its tongue is bright green and teeth can be seen,
Like tusks sticking out of it’s head.

The eel’s reputation had swept through the nation,
And tourist were staying away,
The Mayor of St Ives was caught by surprise,
So he made a decision that day.

The Mayor put an ad in St Ives local rag
And fisherman came from afar,
To the person who caught the beast that he sought,
The Mayor would donate a new car.

Now the story survives down in St Ives,
That a local boy came very near,
To catching that eel on a small rod and reel,
When casting his bait from the pier.

The eel took the hook, it wiggled and shook,
And the nylon line finally gave,
It rose to the surface, snarled at the boy,
Then disappeared under the waves.

The legend’s still told by folk young and old,
That the young boy refused to be beaten,
He cast a new line, the eel rose one last time,
And the rod, reel and young boy were eaten.

©RS2011