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The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

by  Mickey

Posted: Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Word Count: 193




The small shop owned by Mrs Lovett,
purveying pies in old Fleet Street,
had a barber's shop above it
supplying all her tender meat.

Those humble souls who met their God
without the intervening grave,
were victims all of Sweeney Todd,
who gave them all their closest shave.

As Sweeney’s murderous intentions
became increasingly more clear,
Todd’s tonsorial attentions
instilled in each an abject fear.

Without a soul to shed a tear,
so many met their Maker there.
With crimson grins from ear to ear,
they left the demon barber’s chair.

No one heard their cries or moans
as Sweeney slit their lathered necks.
In Dunstan’s crypt he hid their bones
where just the rats paid last respects.

Their windpipes cut, they gave no cries
as Sweeney stripped their body meat
which, baked in widow Lovett’s pies,
became the toast of old Fleet Street.

Of God and King, of Church and State
Sweeney Todd broke all the rules,
with Lovett’s pies the favoured plate
of unsuspecting cannibals.

The pair enjoyed a prosperous life
from pies filled with the flesh he’d strip.
He even took her as his wife -
A most unholy partnership!