Banjo Paterson

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Song Of The Squatter Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH IIJJ JJKK LLLL LLAA LLMN LLLL LLLL OPDD

The Commissioner bet me a pony I wonA
So he cut off exactly two thirds of my runA
For he said I was making a fortune too fastB
And profit gained slower the longer would lastB
-
He remarked as devouring my mutton he satC
That I suffered my sheep to grow sadly too fatC
That they wasted waste land did prerogative brownD
And rebelliously nibbled the droits of the CrownD
-
That the creek that divided my station in twoE
Showed that Nature designed that two fees should be dueE
Mr Riddle assured me 'twas paid but for showF
But he kept it and spent it that's all that I knowF
-
The Commissioner fined me because I forgotG
To return an old ewe that was ill of the rotG
And a poor wry necked lamb that we kept for a petH
And he said it was treason such things to forgetH
-
The Commissioner pounded my cattle becauseI
They had mumbled the scrub with their famishing jawsI
On the part of the run he had taken awayJ
And he sold them by auction the costs to defrayJ
-
The Border Police they were out all the dayJ
To look for some thieves who had ransacked my drayJ
But the thieves they continued in quiet and peaceK
For they'd robbed it themselves had the Border PoliceK
-
When the white thieves had left me the black thieves appearedL
My shepherds they waddied my cattle they spearedL
But for fear of my licence I said not a wordL
For I knew it was gone if the Government heardL
-
The Commissioner's bosom with anger was filledL
Against me because my poor shepherd was killedL
So he straight took away the last third of my runA
And got it transferred to the name of his sonA
-
The son had from Cambridge been lately expelledL
And his licence for preaching most justly withheldL
But this is no cause the Commissioner saysM
Why he should not be fit for a licence to grazeN
-
The cattle that had not been sold at the poundL
He took with the run at five shillings all roundL
And the sheep the blacks left me at sixpence a headL
A very good price the Commissioner saidL
-
The Governor told me I justly was servedL
That Commissioners never from duty had swervedL
But that if I'd a fancy for any more landL
For one pound an acre he'd plenty on handL
-
I'm not very proud I can dig in a bogO
Feed pigs or for firewood can split up a logP
Clean shoes riddle cinders or help to boil downD
Or whatever you please but graze lands of the CrownD

Banjo Paterson



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