As I went over through the Royal Arcade,
Where mirrors counterfeited space
To multiply the gauds displayed,
I met a fellow face to face --
A loutish oaf who did not know
The traffic laws - a swishing "jay"
Who shuffled when I sought to go
To left or right, and blocked my way.
I gazed into his foolish face,
And thought that I had never seen
So great a lack of saving grace
In any visage. Vacant, mean,
A smirking moron's, one would say,
Denoting low mentality...
I cursed the fool and walked away.
And so did he.
First published in The Herald, 20 February 1929
Author reference sites: C.J. Dennis, Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Poetry Library
See also.
