Poem for To-day

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXX, Issue 20165, 20 July 1935, Page 12

Poem for To-day

“DINKUM DEAL FOR KIDS AN 9 WIFE" Lessons From the Dr earnings of “Digger Smith” No Australian writer of verse has caught more of the spirit of the typical people of the Island Continent than C. J. Dennis. The extracts from his eloquent poem “A Square Deal,” printed below, although expressed In the characteristic language of the “Aussie,” yet lacking nothing in perfection of rhythm and sound in the philosophy of life, are nevertheless expressive of the deep yearning of the men who performed miracles of valour "Out There,” “when things was goin’ wrong,” for a square deal for all. Not “the crazy game of grabbin’ wealth an’ chasin’ fame” as Digger Smith puts it, but Just a “Fair Square Deal.” In the eloquent lines of this notable poem, C. J. Dennis reveals the soul of “Digger Smith,” who has become to be regarded as typical of the real Australian who came back from the War and demanded a clean up at home. C. J. Dennis will also be remembered as the author of “The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke,” “Doreen,” “The Moods of Ginger Mick,” “The Glugs of Gosh.” “Backblock Ballads” and other poems. “Dreamin’?” I sez to Digger Smith, “Buck up, ole sport, an’ smile. Ain’t there enough uv joy to-day To drive the bogey man away An’ make reel things worth while? A bloke would think, to see you stare , There’s visions on the ’ill-tops there.” “Dreamin’,” sez Digger Smith. “Why not? An’ there is visions too. An’ when I get ’em sorted out, An’ strafe that little bogey, Doubt, I’ll start me life all new. Oh, I ain’t crook; but packed in ’ere Is thoughts enough to last a year. “I’m thinkin* things,” sez Digger Smith. I’m thinkin’ big an’ fine Uv Life an’ Love an’ all the rest, An’ wot is right an’ wot is best, An* ’ow much will be mine. Not that I’m wantin’ overmuch: Some work , some play, an’ food an’ such.” “You coots at ’ome 'as s?nall ideer Uv wot we think an’ feel. We done our bit an’ seen it thro’, An’ all that we are askin’ you Is jist a fair, square deal. We want this land we battled for To settle up — an’ somethin’ more. “We want the land we battled for To be a land worth while. We’re sick uv greed, an’ ’ate, an’ strife, An’ all the mess that’s made uv life.” . . ’E stopped a bit to smile. “I got these thoughts Out There becos We learnt wot mateship reely was.” “Beauty,” sez Digger, sudden-like, “An’ love, an’ kindliness; The chance to live a clean , straight life, A dinkum deal for kids an’ wife: A man needs nothin’ less . . . Maybe they’ll get it when I go To push up daisies. I dunno.” “Dreamin’,” sez Digger Smith. “Why not? There’s visions on the hill.” . . . Then I gets up an’ steals away, An’ leaves ’im with the dyin’ day, Dreamin’ an’ doubtin’ still ... Cobber, it’s up to me an’ you I To see that ’arf ’is dream comes true. — C. J. Dennis. I