A Bush Christening Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB DEFE G HI JKL MJJJ NEB JOP JIJI JIQI R S TJUJ JVJW| On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few | A |
| And men of religion are scanty | B |
| On a road never cross'd 'cept by folk that are lost | C |
| One Michael Magee had a shanty | B |
| - | |
| Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad | D |
| Plump healthy and stoutly conditioned | E |
| He was strong as the best but poor Mike had no rest | F |
| For the youngster had never been christened | E |
| - | |
| And his wife used to cry 'If the darlin' should die | G |
| Saint Peter would not recognize him ' | - |
| But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived | H |
| Who agreed straightaway to baptize him | I |
| - | |
| Now the artful young rogue while they held their collogue | J |
| With his ear to the keyhole was listenin' | K |
| And he muttered in fright while his features turned white | L |
| 'What the divil and all is this christenin' ' | - |
| - | |
| He was none of your dolts He had seen them brand colts | M |
| And it seemed to his small understanding | J |
| If the man in the frock made him one of the flock | J |
| It must mean something very like branding | J |
| - | |
| So away with a rush he set off for the bush | N |
| While the tears in his eyelids they glistened | E |
| ''Tis outrageous ' says he 'to brand youngsters like me | B |
| I'll be dashed if I'll stop to be christened ' | - |
| - | |
| Like a young native dog he ran into a log | J |
| And his father with language uncivil | O |
| Never heeding the 'praste' cried aloud in his haste | P |
| 'Come out and be christened you divil ' | - |
| - | |
| But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug | J |
| And his parents in vain might reprove him | I |
| Till his reverence spoke he was fond of a joke | J |
| 'I've a notion ' says he 'that'll move him | I |
| - | |
| 'Poke a stick up the log give the spalpeen a prog | J |
| Poke him aisy don't hurt him or maim him | I |
| 'Tis not long that he'll stand I've the water at hand | Q |
| As he rushes out this end I'll name him | I |
| - | |
| 'Here he comes and for shame ye've forgotten the name | R |
| Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis ' | - |
| Here the youngster ran out and the priest gave a shout | S |
| 'Take your chance anyhow wid Maginnis' ' | - |
| - | |
| As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub | T |
| Where he knew that pursuit would be risky | J |
| The priest as he fled flung a flask at his head | U |
| That was labeled 'Maginnis's Whiskey' | J |
| - | |
| Now Maginnis Magee has been made a J P | J |
| And the one thing he hates more than sin is | V |
| To be asked by the folk who have heard of the joke | J |
| How he came to be christened Maginnis | W |
Banjo Paterson
(2)
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About A Bush Christening
A Bush Christening is a poem by Banjo Paterson. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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