#100MonstrousPoems 62: Snallygaster

I seen the snallygaster
I seen his great big wings
I seen the way his tentacles
Can pick up lotsa things.
I tell you, I ain’t lyin’
I seen him yesternight
I seen him changing colour
He went from black to white!

There ain’t no snallygaster.
It’s all a pack o’ lies
There ain’t no fearsome monster
With awful glowin’ eyes
You’re drinkin’ too much whisky
And what you think you saw
Was likely just a heron
So what you screeching for?

I tell you that I seen it
I swear it on my life
And I’d’ve killed the varmint
If I’d’ve had my knife
There is a snallygaster
My granny told me so
She saw it once when she was young
And that is how I know

I seen the snallygaster
As dreadful as could be
And if I’d drunk some whisky
It’s fortunate for me
For if I’d seen him sober
I’d sure enough be dead
Or sent out of my senses
By pure and chilling dread.

I tell you, snallygasters
Ain’t real, it’s just a tale
Your granny used to tell you
To try and make you wail
And what you seen’s a heron
Or, like as not, a snake
Or worse, as I’m suspecting.
You’re nothing but a fake!

Here comes the snallygaster
A crawlin’ after you.
And if he heard you talkin’
Who knows what he might do?
But if you don’t believe me
Just turn around and see.
But I’ll be heading home now
That varmint won’t get me!