Saltbush Bill, J.p. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCDCD EFEF GCGC HIJI KLKM NFNF OMOL PQPQ RSRS TUTU VWM SXSX CYCY ZA2ZA2 B2QB2Q ZC2ZC2 D2E2D2E2 F2CF2C DZDZ KQKQ G2CG2C BH2BH2 I2RI2R ZB2ZB2 BZBZBeyond the land where Leichhardt went | A |
Beyond Sturt's Western track | B |
The rolling tide of change has sent | A |
Some strange J P 's out back | B |
And Saltbush Bill grown old and grey | C |
And worn for want of sleep | D |
Received the news in camp one day | C |
Behind the travelling sheep | D |
- | |
That Edward Rex confiding in | E |
His known integrity | F |
By hand and seal on parchment skin | E |
Had made hiim a J P | F |
- | |
He read the news with eager face | G |
But found no word of pay | C |
I'd like to see my sister's place | G |
And kids on Christmas Day | C |
- | |
I'd like to see green grass again | H |
And watch clear water run | I |
Away from this unholy plain | J |
And flies and dust and sun | I |
- | |
At last one little clause he found | K |
That might some hope inspire | L |
A magistrate may charge a pound | K |
For inquest on a fire | M |
- | |
A big blacks' camp was built close by | N |
And Saltbush Bill says he | F |
I think that camp might well supply | N |
A job for a J P | F |
- | |
That night by strange coincidence | O |
A most disastrous fire | M |
Destroyed the country residence | O |
Of Jacky Jack Esquire | L |
- | |
'Twas mostly leaves and bark and dirt | P |
The party most concerned | Q |
Appeared to think it wouldn't hurt | P |
If forty such were burned | Q |
- | |
Quite otherwise thought Saltbush Bill | R |
Who watched the leaping flame | S |
The home is small said he but still | R |
The principle's the same | S |
- | |
Midst palaces though you should roam | T |
Or follow pleasure's tracks | U |
You'll find he said no place like home | T |
At least like Jacky Jack's | U |
- | |
Tell every man in camp 'Come quick ' | - |
Tell every black Maria | V |
I give tobacco half a stick | W |
Hold inquest long a fire | M |
- | |
Each juryman received a name | S |
Well suited to a Court | X |
Long Jack and Stumpy Bill became | S |
John Long and William Short | X |
- | |
While such as Tarpot Bullock Dray | C |
And Tommy Wait a While | Y |
Became for ever and a day | C |
Scot Dickens and Carlyle | Y |
- | |
And twelve good sable men and true | Z |
Were soon engaged upon | A2 |
The conflagration that o'erthrew | Z |
The home of John A John | A2 |
- | |
Their verdict Burnt by act of Fate | B2 |
They scarcely had returned | Q |
When just behind the magistrate | B2 |
Another humpy burned | Q |
- | |
The jury sat again and drew | Z |
Another stick of plug | C2 |
Said Saltbush Bill It's up to you | Z |
Put some one long a Jug | C2 |
- | |
I'll camp the sheep he said and sift | D2 |
The evidence about | E2 |
For quite a week he couldn't shift | D2 |
The way the fires broke out | E2 |
- | |
The jury thought the whole concern | F2 |
As good as any play | C |
They used to take him oath and earn | F2 |
Three sticks of plug a day | C |
- | |
At last the tribe lay down to sleep | D |
Homeless beneath a tree | Z |
And onward with his travelling sheep | D |
Went Saltbush bill J P | Z |
- | |
His sheep delivered safe and sound | K |
His horse to town he turned | Q |
And drew some five and twenty pound | K |
For fees that he had earned | Q |
- | |
And where Monaro's ranges hide | G2 |
Their little farms away | C |
His sister's children by his side | G2 |
He spent his Christmas Day | C |
- | |
The next J P that went out back | B |
Was shocked or pained or both | H2 |
At hearing every pagan black | B |
Repeat the juror's oath | H2 |
- | |
No matter how he turned and fled | I2 |
They followed faster still | R |
You make it inkwich boss they said | I2 |
All same like Saltbush Bill | R |
- | |
They even said they'd let him see | Z |
The fires originate | B2 |
When he refused they said that he | Z |
Was No good magistrate | B2 |
- | |
And out beyond Sturt's western track | B |
And Leichhardt's farthest tree | Z |
They wait till fate shall send them back | B |
Their Saltbush Bill J P | Z |
Banjo Paterson
(1)
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