A RHYME THAT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 11, 15 November 1919, Page 22

A RHYME THAT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

(From Melbourne "Table Talk.") On all men's lips a question runs; The simple and the knowing ones Converse Upon one theme alone, The universally unknown, And yet which everybody knows Wherever the inquirer goes, The riddle all have given up: What horse will win the Melbourne Cup? Now were it bootless to repeat The names one hears in shop or street Until it seems, that every horse Is easily champion of the course. No other topic can be heard, And even Mr. Hughes's word Of gravity is bundled by— What horse will catch the judges eye ? The minds of men are worried not With Revolution's stories hot; The future of the human race Is shelved for just a little space j Another race concerns us more, That's run beside Saltwater's shore; From Darwin down to Koo-wee-rup ' We talk about the Melbourne Cup. The Ausaies on the distant foam Await a wireless word from home Zip, zip! The message comes. Zip zip! A whisper flies around the ship. An ethergram from Billy Hughes With items of political news. The Aussiee grumble: "Blow that gup; . Wl at's going to win the Melbourne Cup?" Thougl. kingdoms great may crash and fall, We heed their ruin not at wl; Thjugh Woodrow Wilson, grand and higL, ih falling sick and like to .lie, Such names as his cannot compare With Lucknow, Nightwatch, Kennaquhair; We only ask, where'er you go, In whispers eager: "What d'you kr.cw?" ® <& ©