THE UNSOCIABLE WALLABY

Willie spied a wallaby hopping through the fern—­
Here a jump, here a thump, there a sudden turn. 
   Willie called the wallaby, begging him to stop,
   But he went among the wattles with a
                           flip,
                                   flap,
                                            flop!

* * *

I wonder whether, all together, you and I and father
Could eat a bun that weighs a ton.  I’d like to try it, rather.

I want to know why roosters crow at dawning of the day. 
Is it because they cannot think of something else to say?

* * *

THE SONG OF THE SULKY STOCKMAN

Come, let us sing with a right good ring
   (Sing hey for lifting lay, sing hey!)
Of any old, sunny old, silly old thing. 
   (Sing ho for the ballad of a backblock day!)
The sun shone brightly overhead,
And the shearers stood by the shearing shed;
But “The run wants rain,” the stockman said
(Sing di-dum, wattle-gum, Narrabori Ned. 
For a lifting lay sing hey!)

The colts were clipped and the sheep were shorn
   (Sing hey for a lilting lay, sing hey!)
But the stockman stood there all forlorn. 
   (Sing ho for the ballad of a backblock day!)
The rails were up and the gate was tied,
And the big black bull was safe inside;
But “The wind’s gone West!” the stockman sighed
(Sing, di-dum, wattle-gum, rally for a ride. 
   For a lifting lay sing hey!)

The cook came out as the clock struck one
   (Sing hey for a lilting lay, sing hey!)
And the boundary rider got his gun. 
   (Sing ho for the ballad of a backblock day!)
He fired it once at an old black crow;
But the shot went wide, for he aimed too low;
And the stockman said, “Fat stock is low.” 
(Sing, di-dum, wattle-gum, Jerridiiii Joe. 
   For a lifting lay sing hey!)

They spread their swags in the gum-tree’s shade
   (Sing hey for a lilting lay, sing hey!)
For the work was done and the cheques were paid. 
   (Sing ho for the ballad of a backblock day!)
The overseer rode in at three,
But his horse pulled back and would not gee,
And the stockman said, “We’re up a tree!”
(Sing, di-dum, wattle-gum, Johnny-cake for tea. 
   For a lilting lay sing hey!)

The sun sank down and the stars shone out
   (Sing hey for a lifting lay, sing hey!)
And the old book-keeper moped about. 
   (Sing ho for the ballad of a backblock day!)
The dingo wailed to the mopoke’s call,
The crazy colt stamped in his stall;
But the stockman groaned, “it’s bunk for all.” 
(Sing, di-dum, wattle-gum, wattle-gum, wattle-gum,
   Hey for a backblock day! 
        Sing hey! 
   Sing hey for a lifting lay!)

OUR COW