THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN ADJECTIVE by W.T. Goodge

The sunburnt ---- stockman stood
And, in a dismal ---- mood,
   Apostrophized his ---- cuddy;
"The ---- nag's no ---- good,
He couldn't earn his ---- food -
   A regular ---- brumby,
                     ----!"

He jumped across the ---- horse And cantered off, of ---- course! The roads were bad and ---- muddy; Said he, "Well, spare me ---- days The ---- Government's ---- ways Are screamin' ---- funny, ----!"
He rode up hill, down ---- dale, The wind it blew a ---- gale, The creek was high and ---- floody. Said he, "The ---- horse must swim, The same for ---- me and him, Is something ---- sickenin', ----!"
He plunged into the ---- creek, The ---- horse was ---- weak, The stockman's face a ---- study! And though the ---- horse was drowned The ---- rider reached the ground Ejaculating, "----!" "----!"

"The Colonel"
Bulletin, 11 December 1898, p26

Note:
This poem was originally published under the title "----!" (The Great Australian Adjective).
C.J. Dennis borrowed the style and intent with his poem The Australaise.


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