The Line That Boom Built by C.J. Dennis

This is the line that Boom built.

This is the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the citizen all foresworn that elected the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the grandson, afterward born, that followed the citizen all foresworn that elected the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the debt that proved a thorn to burden the grandson, afterward born, that followed the citizen all foresworn that elected the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the interest none could scorn that doubled the debt that proved a thorn to burden the grandson, afterward born, that followed the citizen all foresworn that elected the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the lien on our kine and corn because of the interest none could scorn that doubled the debt that proved a thorn to burden the grandson, afterward born, that followed the citizen all foresworn that elected the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

This is the dawn of the fateful morn, due date for the lien on our kine and corn (while we search our pockets all tattered and torn at the call of the mortgagee forlorn) to look for the interest none may scorn that doubles the debt that proves a thorn to burden the grandson, afterward born, that follow the citizen all foresworn that elected the man that pushed the plan that floated the loan that lay on the line that Boom built.

First published in The Herald, 31 July 1930

Author reference sites: C.J. Dennis, Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Poetry Library