Warning - Long Post

Tweet

We received an invitation today to a 'Have A Go' day at a friend's place. It will be a barbecue and different ones 'having a go' at reciting, singing, telling a yarn, whatever. Most will probably be from the bush poets group but Vince and I and a few others have been invited as well. So I thought I'd share this doggerel with you. It's a bit long but it is what it is. If you want to read my other two bush poems they will come up if you search for 'bush poetry'. My Poor Bloody Dog I caught the train the other day I haven't done that for a while A young lad sat beside me and gave me a bit of a smile I'm goin' home he said and here he pulled a face Things aren't too good back home I fear not that I miss the old place. Me folks they must be sixty-odd It's time that I went back They paddle around on that little farm At the end of a gravel track I had an email from me mum I could tell that things weren't right So I reckon it's time I headed home I'll read it if you like. Dear Dave (that's me) the email starts And then she carries on And tells me all the trouble They've had since I've been gone Your Dad's gone in for tests she wrote I think he'll be all right He had a bit of a turn you know Gave me quite a fright He was driving home in the ute last night Just coming up to the house When that dog of yours got under his feet Scrabbling after a mouse He couldn't operate the brakes Your Dad, not the dog And then he ran into the verandah post You'd think he'd been on the grog It's the same verandah post you know Where Uncle Jack tied his horse That time it pulled back and broke the reins Scared by your dog of course. It's always been a little bit weak The post not your dog Your dad never got to fix it He's been in a bit of a fog. The bump it shook the whole house Though that didn't really matter But a lump of plaster tumbled down And fell in me pancake batter. And little Joey in his cage Squawked and said ever so plain (He's talkin' really well now) ' It's that bloody dog again' As I said Joey's doing fine He's talking like a treat 'Bugger off you bloody dog' Is what he said last week I was just getting breakfast see But I went out there quick smart Your Dad was slumped and pretty pale I thought it was his heart I grabbed him under the arms And tried to tug him free But that dog of yours got in the way And I fell down on him, you see. I fell on the dog and he gave a yelp I haven't seen him since He's gone in under the house somewhere But I leave him food and drink The lad looked up, tears in his years And folding the page, said to my surprise 'That's pretty much the end of the note There wouldn't need to be more So I'm on my way. I'll be there today And then I'll know the score. I'm not worried about me mum and dad They're tough as a white gum tree No, I'm not at all worried about them But my bloody dog needs me.