Things I Want by Leon Gellert

I want the brawn to brawl
   And the strength to strike;
And I want the right to murder all
   The people I dislike.

I want a girl to love,
   And a bed to lie on;
And (with permission from above)
   A bright young scion.

I want to be a wit
   And extremely clever;
And (should I care to mention it)
   I want to live for ever.

I want my voice to sound
   Like the deepest thunder;
And twelve apostles gathered round
   With eyes full of wonder.

I want a queen to please
   And a king to kick;
And if I'm not content with these
   Then I'm a lunatic.

I want a bag of pelf
   And a spark of hope;
But if I choose to hang myself
   I want sufficient rope.

First published in The Bulletin, 8 July 1936

Author: Leon Maxwell Gellert (1892-1977) was born and educated in Adelaide. He worked as  teracher before enlisting in the AIF. He took part in the Gallipoli landings, was wounded and sent to England to recuperate.  When he returned to Australia in 1916 he published Songs of a Campaign, a collection of war poetry.  He continued to write poetry for the rest of his life and was also literary editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph.  He died in Adelaide in 1977.

Author reference sites: Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography.