Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LAST WEEK, by ANDREW BARTON PATERSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LAST WEEK, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Oh, the new - chum went to the backblock run
Last Line: I drank it all up last week!
Alternate Author Name(s): Paterson, 'banjo'
Subject(s): Death; Hearts; Dead, The


Oh, the new-chum went to the backblock run,
But he should have gone there last week.
He tramped ten miles with a loaded gun,
But of turkey or duck saw never a one,
For he should have been there last week,
They said,
There were flocks of 'em there last week.

He wended his way to a waterfall,
And he should have gone there last week.
He carried a camera, legs and all,
But the day was hot and the stream was small,
For he should have gone there last week,
They said,
They drowned a man there last week.

He went for a drive, and he made a start,
Which should have been made last week,
For the old horse died of a broken heart;
So he footed it home and he dragged the cart --
But the horse was all right last week,
They said,
He trotted a match last week.

So he asked the bushies who came from afar
To visit the town last week
If they'd dine with him, and they said 'Hurrah!'
But there wasn't a drop in the whisky jar --
You should have been here last week,
He said,
I drank it all up last week!





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