Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE PROTEST by ANDREW BARTON PATERSON

First Line: I SAY 'E ISN'T REMORSE!
Last Line: (PROTEST DISMISSED.)
Subject(s): ANIMALS; BIRDS; CROWS; HORSES; REMORSE;

I say 'e @3isn't@1 Remorse!
'Ow do I know?
Saw 'im on Riccarton course
Two year ago!
Think I'd forget any 'orse?
@3Course@1 'e's The Crow!

Bumper Maginnis and I
After a 'go',
Walkin' our 'orses to dry,
I says 'Hello!
What's that old black goin' by?'
Bumper says 'Oh!
That's an old cuddy of Flanagan's --
Runs as The Crow!'

Now they make out 'e's Remorse.
Well, but I @3know@1.
Soon as I came on the course
I says ''Ello!
'Ere's the old Crow.'
Once a man's seen any 'orse,
Course 'e must know.
Sure as there's wood in this table,
I say 'e's The Crow.

(@3Cross-examined by the Committee.@1)
'Ow do I know the moke
After one sight?
S'posin' you meet a bloke
Down town at night,
Wouldn't you know 'im again when you met 'im?
That's @3'im@1 all right!

What was the brand on 'is 'ide?
@3I@1 couldn't say,
Brands can be transmogrified.
That ain't the way --
It's the @3look@1 of a 'orse and the way that 'e moves
That I'd know any day

What was the boy on 'is back?
Why, 'e went past
All of a minute, and off down the track.
-- 'The 'orse went as fast?'
True, so 'e did! But, my eyes, what a treat!
'Ow can I notice the 'ands and the seat
Of each bumble-faced kid of a boy that I meet?
Lor'! What a question to ast!
(@3Protest Dismissed.@1)



Home: PoetryExplorer.net