They Call It Pirates Alley



There once was a dark, steamy alley

As the story has often been told...

That was frequented by frightful pirates

Often smelly, crusty and old...


Jean Lafitte and his many pirates

Used this alley to sell their wares...

They paid off the local police

To move their booty without any cares...


Since the adjacent building known as the Cabildo

Housed the local corrupt City Hall...

Where many a crooked politician

Would so often come to call...


The pirates and their politicians

Traded peacefully among one another...

Which offered a very nice living

For Jean, and also Pierre, his big brother...


The local jail was located in the alley

Where his partner, pirate Pierre...

Who was alway drunk and disorderly

Would often end up punished in there...


After breaking Pierre out

Of the old Spanish calaboose...

The Lafitte boys and their pirates

Would pack up and quickly vamoose...


It is said that a secret meeting

Was held between Lafitte and Andrew Jackson...

Where together they discussed a plan

To defeat the British for all their taxin...


Lafitte would supply his pirates,

His artillery and swamp expertise...

All designed to help General Jackson’s army

Bring the powerful British to their knees...


After the Battle of New Orleans was fought

And General Jackson’s army had finally won...

Was when the General formally acknowledged

Jean Lafitte’s pirates, and an Ursuline nun...


It was also said that William Faulkner

Rented a secluded flat there, in late 1925...

It’s where his story ‘Soldier’s Pay’

Would eventually be written and come alive...


In 1830, it became a cobblestoned alley

As it is still to this very day...

It’s also known as the alley

Where Morgus the Magnificent was rumored to play...


So in 1964, to finally make permanent

What had long been already claimed...

The famous street “Pirates Alley”

Became officially what is was named...


So whether you’re walking on Pirates Alley

In the early morning or late at night...

If you see the ghost of a pirate

Say “Hello, Jean Lafitte” instead of running in fright...


© 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

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