C.J. Dennis, Digger Smith - Part 2

Drawing - see original document 
"...e's jist your kind.
Not quite so 'an'some, p'r'aps, nor so refined."

Before the War
"Before the war," she sighs. "Before the war."
Then blinks 'er eyes, an' tries to work a smile.
"Ole scenes," she sez, "don't look the same no
more.
Ole ways," she sez, "seems to 'ave changed
their style,
The pleasures that we 'ad don't seem worth while -
Them simple joys that passed an hour away - 
An' troubles, that we used to so revile,
'Ow small they look," she sez. " 'Ow small to-day.
 "This war!"  sighs ole Mar Flood. An' when I seen
The ole girl sitting' in our parlour there,
Tellin' 'er troubles to my wife, Doreen,
As though the talkin' eased 'er load uv care,
I think uv mothers, 'ere an' everwhere,
Smilin' a bit while they are grievin' sore
For grown-up babies, fightin' Over There;
An' then I ears ' em sigh, "Before the war."
11

12 DIGGER SMITH
My wife 'as took the social 'abit bad.
I ain't averse - one more new word I've learned-
Averse to tea, when tea is to be 'ad;
An' when it comes I reckon that it's earned.
It's jist a drink, as fur as I'm concerned,
Good for a bloke that's toilin' on the land;
But when a caller comes, 'ere I am turned
Into a social butterfly, off-'and.
Then drinkin' becomes an 'oly rite.
So's I won't bring the fam'ly to disgrace
I gits a bit uv coachin' overnight
On ridin' winners in the bun-fed race.
I 'ave to change me shirt, an wash me face,
An' look reel neat, from me waist up at least.
An' sling remarks in at the proper place,
An' not make noises drinkin', like a beast.
" ' Ave some more cake. Another slice, now do.
An' won't yeh 'ave a second cup uv tea?
"ow is the children?" Ar, it makes me blue!
This boodoor 'abit ain't no good to me.
I likes to take me tucker plain an' free:
Tea an' a chunk out on the job for choice,
So I can stoke with no one there to see.
Besides, I 'aven't got no comp'ny voice.

 BEFORE THE WAR  13
Uv course , I've 'ad it all out with the wife.
I argues that there's work that must be done,
An' tells 'er that I 'ates this tony life.
She sez there's jooties that we must not shun.
You bet that ends it; so I joins sthe fun,
An' puts 'em all at ease with silly grins-
Slings but uv repartee like " 'Ave a bun,"
An' passes bread an' butter, for me sins.
Since I've been marri'd, say, I've chicked some things
An' ;earned a whole lot more to fill the spce.
I've slung all slang ; crook words 'ave taken wings,
An' I 'ave learned to entertain with grace.
But when ole Missus Flood comes round our place
I don't object to 'er , for all 'er sighs ;
Becos I likes 'er ways, I like 'er face.
An', most uv all, she 'as then mother's eyes.
"Before the war, " she sighs, the poor ole girl.
'Er talk it gets me thinkin' in between,
While I'm assistin' at this social whirl....
She comes across for comfort to Doreen, 
To talk about the things that might 'ave been
If Syd 'ad not been killed at Suvla Bay,
Or Jim not done a bunk at seventeen,
An' not been 'eard uv since 'e went away.