![]() "C. J. Dennis, father, of the Sentimental Bloke, Doreen and Ginger Mick, is leaving his political secretaryship and making back to his Bush home at Toolangi (Vic.), where the splitters live and a writer has time to think." Wot price ole C. J. Den? 'E's done a break -- 'E's drawn 'is time and cut the Guv'ment stroke; 'E's givin' art a chance for art's sweet sake; 'E alwis was a Sentimental Bloke. Just fancy 'im a bloomin' bureaucrat! Blimey, I knoo 'e wasn't meant for that. All singin' soldiers wot 'ave sung 'is songs, Because of Mick, will 'elp 'is songs endure; And ev'ry rhymester for 'is fame 'oo longs Will wish 'im luck, pursuin' lit'rachoor, Though Billy 'Ughes will miss 'im at 'is post, When fate 'as robbed Ted Russell of 'is "ghost." Ah, well -- life's but a thing o' circumstance, A sort o' pendulum that comes an' goes; But square an' all, I 'ope we 'ave the chance To meet once more Doreen, the Bloke an' Rose An' Mick, 'oose friendship made their life's brief span The richer for a gallant gentleman. I 'ear some fat'ead murmur, "Rollin' stone"; "Stick to your job," observes some other chump; But Den is bound to think things out alone, Up at Toolangi, sittin' on a stump, An' writin' dinkum lyrics on the sly For illustration by 'is pal, 'Al Gye. I wisht I 'ad 'is luck -- an' so do scores Of blokes wot keep their grindstones on the turn, An' kids in boots an' socks, an' wolves from doors -- It ain't all po'try makin' 'ome-lights burn. But ar! 'is 'ome in dreamland 'olds a queen To 'oom we dips our lid -- er name's Doreen!
"Guy Innes" |
Copyright © Perry Middlemiss 2002-06 |