Open Poetry #43 |
Phrases Used in Yester Year |
LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
PHRASES USED IN YESTERYEAR Thinking back when I was young And of words and phrases that we used, I think if young ones heard them used today, They would be very much bemused. I was raised up in the sticks And I remember as a boy, That if Mum was short of melon jam She filled us up on cocky’s joy. Milking cows in the early morn We had to make an early start, Dad made sure we were on the ball And was up at sparrow f-rt. For breakfast we would start the day With a good plate full of burgoo, Then we’d have to think about How we’d earn our next razoo. Often when tea-time come around We’d have quangers stewed or raw, Mum filled us up till we were stonkered And couldn’t eat no more. If we were certain of some fact, We’d say it was dinky-di And if something else was hard to get, Scarce as hen’s teeth was the cry. If someone was dumb or a shingle short, Then they had white ants in the billy, It was just one way to explain That they were really rather silly. When you’d see a gang of men at work, There’d be one on the government stroke, Some duckshoving bludgin’ loafer, Most usually the township soak.. If some bonzer bird should pass us by, Nearly everyone would take a geek, But it was nearly always wasted time For you finished, up the well known creek. If we couldn’t go to the local dance Then that was really on the nose, As we thought of all the missing fun With the sheilas birds or crows. Larrikins were a common sight And the John Hop caught the spielers, For if they were getting short of brass, They started poddy dodging vealers. Underground mutton was the usual dish, It referred to the humble bunny And with too much bunghole down your gob, You had a delayed stay in the dunny. Fair dinkum, there’d be some tear-a-se twit, Trying to put the moz on some shifty wowser , And the boss’s lacky, spilt the beans About pinching petrol at the bowser. Yes things were rather different then, A rip-snorter was very good, And if you could beat someone at cards Then on him you had the wood.. Sook and nork and punce and squib, Well you wouldn’t want one for a mate, But you’d be troppo to put up your dooks But I suppose it’s what circumstance dictates. Some words I’ve used are slightly coarse And perhaps should not be used by gents, But that’s what we’ve been asked to write, So I hope no-one takes offence. Lindsay P Wilson |
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© Copyright 2008 Lindsay P Wilson - All Rights Reserved | |||
amusemi Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262A State of Disarray |
What a great smidgen of down-under culture you have blessed us with. Enjoyed.... |
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LindsayP Member Elite
since 2007-07-28
Posts 3410Australia, Victoria |
Amusemi my friend, thanks for responding but it looks like I wrote an unpopular one this time. I won't do that again. Thanks again. Lindsay |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
I will keep a copy of this in my documents. It does not matter to me whether or not it was popular. It is a splendid piece for me. I can copy down the phrases and ask my Aussie friends if they know them. I am interested in studying languages and dialects so this will come in handy in the future. |
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