The Seashell

By Robert James DeBurgh (Poet)

On the sands at Benghazi
I picked up a shell,
( In the shape of a bell! )
And pressed it to my Ear.

And Lo! I heard the sound of the Sea of Life
Ebbing and Flowing.
And I thought of the Strife
Of life with my Wife
And I felt that a Knife
Had been thrust through my ribs!

Oh heart! Oh Woe!
I stubbed my toe on the rocks
And I ripped my Good Socks
And skinned my poor hocks but then,
That's life in the school of Hard Knocks.

But I'll take home the Seashell to Ayesha,
My sweetie,
Who's a bit overweight,
But I like 'em quite meaty.
And I'll put the Seashell up to her Ear
While I nibble the other, "My darling, my dear"
Then after we've eaten our Cous-Cous for dinner
On the sands at Benghazi,
I'll ram me right in her!

Benghazi 1891

NOTE;
This Work of the Master, despite being considered "Improper" by some members of The Society due to it's somewhat Lewd nature, is an important one by virtue of the fact it contains one of the Few references to his Wife!
Research is currently being undertaken to reveal the identity of the mysterious Mrs DeBurgh. However, given that no-one knows exactly When, or Where or indeed IF DeBurgh married, and the number of Churches and Registry Offices in Britain, let alone Abroad, it is a daunting task to say the least!
B. Svertlovich dedicated considerable amounts of time to this project before being sidetracked by something more interesting.....

NOTES ON PROVENANCE:
Like so many of the Great Works of DeBurgh, this item came to The Society in an unusual way. Mrs Agatha Hopkins, on holiday in Malaga, on Spain�s Costa Brava, spotted the Work as part of the general d�cor in Jose and Maria�s Exotic Shell Shop, where Mrs Hopkins had gone to purchase a shell model of the Lourdes Grotto (complete with holy water font and a small battery light) In consideration of Mrs Hopkins buying two such models Maria gave the work to her as a gift. Mrs Hopkins sent the Work to The Society shortly before she was strangled by a neighbour to whom she was presenting the shell model of the Lourdes Grotto.