For Eric   (Eric is [was, alas] Olive's little canary, chirping away, sadly still behind bars, in a relatively unrusty cage somewhere in deepest, darkest Greece - I have to admit I feel a bit sorry for him...) (and it's also about... ) Tweet tweet, chirp chirp Sitting in his cage Eric the canary Working up a rage Sun too strong And the light too bright Can't seem to make out Day from night Up creeps a rose Sneaks out a thorny branch Pries Eric's door open Will he see his chance? Lots of little roses Beam at him with glee Little faces urging `Flee, Eric, flee!' Twitter twitter, cheep cheep Eric's on the ledge Beak against the bars now Teet'ring on the edge Sun too fierce And the light too strong Can't seem to shake out Right from wrong Up hops a Scarecrow Sticks out a straw `Grab a ride with me, lad Here, gimmie a claw We'll fly the fields together, I'll sketch you skies so pure Then I'll take you to my Muddy patch To cool our stakes for sure.' Chatter chatter, tweep tweep Eric's peeking out Swallows looking sweet today Makes him wanna shout Sun so high And the light blinding Can't seem to focus As the church bells ring Up strolls the Farmer Chewing on a twig Never seen his Eric Looking quite so big Now's the time to fly, boy, Today's the day to say: `I've had enough of rusty bars - I'm gonna seize the day!' Chipper chipper, peep peep Eric takes a plunge Flutter-stutters, moans an' mutters Makes a final lunge Sun just winks And the light just sighs Can't seem to joke As the feathers rise Up pops an olive tree Waiting for the day When some small soul will make her whole By stopping on his way And clutching tiny golden claws Around her limbs so true Looks all about and lets it out: `I will remember you!' Chirp chirp, tweet tweet Smiling in the shade Eric the canary Drinking lemonade Sunshine chases And the light gives in Can't seem to take out What's deep within   ( ...alcoholism)