C.J. Dennis, The Moods of Ginger Mick - Part 7

112 
THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK

"We can't afford no corperils. But, some'ow, I dunno,

I got a nervis feelin' in me chest,

That this 'ere bit uv fancy work might be me final go

An' I won't be 'ome to dinner wiv the rest.

It's rot; but it keeps comin' back, that lonely kind o' mood

That fills me up wiv mushy thorts that don't do any good.
"When it's gettin' near to evenin' an' the guns is slowin' down

I fergits the playful 'abits uv our foes,

An' finds meself a-thinkin' thorts uv good ole Melbourne town,

An' dreamin' dilly dreams about ole Rose.

O' course I'll see me girl again, an' give a clean, square deal,

When I come smilin' 'ome again . . . But that ain't 'ow I feel.
"I feel . . . I dunno 'ow I feel. I feel that things is done.

I seem t've 'it the limit in some way.

Per'aps I'm orf me pannikin wiv sittin' in the sun,

But I jist wrote to Rose the other day.

An' I wrote 'er sort o' mournful 'cos - I dunno 'ow it seems . . .

Ar, I'm a gay galoot to go an' 'ave these dilly dreams!
"Wot price the bran' noo corperil, wiv sof'nin' uv the 'eart!

If my pet lambs thort me a turtle dove

I'd 'ave to be reel stern wiv 'em, an' make another start

To git 'em where I got 'em jist wiv love . . .

But don't fergit, if you or your Doreen sees Rose about,

Jist tell 'er that I'm well an' strong, an' sure uv winnin' out.

THE GAME 113
"Ho! the sky's as blue as blazes, an' the sun is shinin' still,

An' the dicky bird is perchin' on the twig,

An' the guns is pop, pop, poppin' frum the trenches on the 'ill,

An' I'm looking bonny in me non-com's rig.

An' when yer writin' me again - don't think I want ter skite -

But don't fergit the 'Corperil'; an' mind yeh spells it right."

[*H*]

XIV. "A GALLANT GENTLEMAN"

Illustration - see original document
"War piles the burdens wiv a 'eavy 'and."

"A Gallant Gentleman"

A MONTH ago the world grew grey fer me;

A month ago the light went out fer Rose.

To 'er they broke it gentle as might be;

But fer 'is pal 'twus one uv them swift blows

That stops the 'eart-beat; fer to me it came

Jist, "Killed in Action," an', beneath, 'is name.
'Ow many times 'ave I sat dreamin' 'ere

An' seen the boys returnin', gay an' proud.

I've seen the greetin's, 'eard 'is rousin' cheer,

An' watched ole Mick come stridin' thro' the crowd.

'Ow many times 'ave I sat in this chair

An' seen 'is 'ard chiv grinnin' over there.
'E's laughed, an' told me stories uv the war.

Changed some 'e looked, but still the same ole Mick,

Keener an' cleaner that 'e wus before.

'E's took me 'and, an' said 'e's in great nick.

Sich wus the dreamin's uv a fool 'oo tried

To jist crack 'ardy, an' 'old gloom aside.

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118 
THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK

An' now — well, wot's the odds? I'm only one:

One out uv many 'oo 'as lost a friend.

Manlike, I'll bounce again, an' find me fun;

But fer poor Rose it seems the bitter end.

Fer Rose, an' sich as Rose, when one man dies

It seems the world goes black before their eyes.
Fer Rose, an' sich as Rose, thro' orl the world,

War piles the burdens wiv' a 'eavy 'and.

Since bugles called an' banners were unfurled,

A sister'ood 'as growed thro' orl the land —

A 'oly sister'ood that puts aside

Sham things, an' 'and takes 'and in grief — an' pride.
Ar, well; if Mick could 'ear me blither now,

I know jist wot 'e'd say an' 'ow 'e'd look:

"Aw, cut it out, mate; chuck that silly row!

There ain't no sense in takin' sich things crook.

I've took me gamble; an' there's none to blame

Becos I drew a blank; it's in the game."
A parson cove he broke the noos to Rose —

A friend uv mine, a bloke wiv snowy 'air,

An' gentle, soothin' sort o' ways, 'oo goes

Thro' life jist 'umpin' others' loads uv care.

Instid uv Mick - jist one rough soljer lad —

Yeh'd think 'e'd lost the dearest friend 'e 'ad.

119

"A GALLANT GENTLEMAN"

But 'ow kin blows be sof'n'd sich as that?

Rose took it as 'er sort must take sich things.

An' if the jolt uv it 'as knocked me flat,

Well, 'oo is there to blame 'er if it brings

Black thorts that comes to women when they frets,

An' makes 'er tork wild tork an' foolish threats.
An' then there comes the letter that wus sent

To give the strength uv Ginger's passin' out —

A long, straight letter frum a bloke called Trent.

'Tain't no use tellin' wot it's orl about.

There's things that's in it I kin see quite clear

Ole Ginger Mick ud be ashamed to 'ear.
Things praisin' 'im, that pore ole Mick ud say

Wus comin' it too 'ot; fer, spare me days!

I well remember that 'e 'ad a way

Uv curlin' up when 'e wus slung bokays.

An' Trent 'e seems to think that in some way

'E owes Mick somethin' that 'e can't repay.
Well, p'raps 'e does; an' in the note 'e sends

'E arsts if Mick 'as people 'e kin find.

Fer Trent's an English toff wiv swanky friends,

An' wants to 'elp wot Ginger's left be'ind.

'E sez strange things in this 'ere note 'e sends:

"He was a gallant gentleman," it ends.

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THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK

A gallant gentleman! Well, I dunno.

I 'ardly think that Mick ud like that name.

But this 'ere Trent's a toff, an' ort to know

The breedin' uv the stock frum which 'e came.

Gallant an' game Mick might 'a' bin; but then—

Lord! Fancy 'im among the gentlemen!

'E wus a man; that's good enough fer me,

'Oo wus 'is cobber many years before

'E writ it plain fer other blokes to see,

An' proved it good an' plenty at the war.

'E wus a man; an', by the way 'e died,

'E wus a man 'is friend kin claim wiv pride.

The way 'e died ... Gawd! but it makes me proud

I ever 'eld 'is 'and, to read that tale.

An' Trent is one uv that 'igh-steppin' crowd

That don't sling praise around be ev'ry mail.

To 'im it seemed some great 'eroic lurk;

But Mick, I know, jist took it wiv 'is work.

No matter wot 'e done. It's jist a thing

I knoo 'e'd do if once 'e got the show.

An' it would never please 'im fer to sling

Tall tork at 'im jist 'cos 'e acted so.

"Don't make a song uv it!" I 'ear 'im growl,

"I've done me limit, an' tossed in the tow'l."

121

"A GALLANT GENTLEMAN"

This little job, 'e knoo — an' I know well—

A thousand uv 'is cobbers would 'ave done.
Fer they are soljers; an' it's crook to tell

A tale that marks fer praise a single one.

An' that's 'ow Mick would 'ave it, as I know;

An', as 'e'd 'ave it, so we'll let it go.

Trent tells 'ow, when they found 'im, near the end,

'E starts a fag an' grins orl bright an' gay.

An' when they arsts feer messages to send

To friends, 'is look goes dreamin' far away.

"Look after Rose," 'e sez, "when I move on.

Look after . . . Rose. . . Mafeesh!" An' e' wus

gone.
"We buried 'im," sez Trent, "down by the beach.

We put mimosa on the mound uv sand

Above 'im. 'Twus the nearest thing in reach

To golden wattle uv 'is native land.

But never wus the fairest wattle wreath

More golden than the 'eart uv 'im beneath."

An' so —Mafeesh! as Mick 'ad learned to say.

'E's finished; an' there's few 'as marked 'im go.
Only one soljer, outed in the fray,

'Oo took 'is gamble, an' 'oo 'ad 'is show.

There's few to mourn 'im: an' the less they leave,

The less uv sorrer; fewer  'earts to grieve.

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THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK
An' when I'm feelin' blue, an' mopin' 'ere

About the pal I've lorst; Doreen, my wife,

She comes an' takes my 'and, an' tells me, "Dear,

There'd be more cause to mourn a wasted life.

'E proved 'imself a man; an' 'e's at rest."

An' so, I tries to think sich things is best.

A gallant gentleman . . . Well, let it go.

They sez they've put them words above 'is 'ead,

Out there where lonely graves stretch in a row;

But MIck  'e'll never mind it now 'e's dead.

An' where 'e's gone, when they weigh praise an' blame,

P'raps gentlemen an' men is much the same.

They fights; an' orl the land is filled wiv cheers.

They dies; an' 'ere an' there a 'eart is broke.

An' when I weighs it orl — the shouts, the tears —

I see it's well Mick wus a lonely bloke.

'E found a game 'e knoo, an' played it well;

An' now 'e's gone. Wot more is there to tell?

A month ago, fer me the world grew grey;

A month ago the light went out fer Rose;

Becos one common soljer crossed the way,

Leavin' a common message as 'e goes.

But ev'ry dyin' soljer's 'ope lies there:

"Look after Rose.  Mafeesh!"  Gawd!  It's a pray'r!

123

"A GALLANT GENTLEMAN"

That's wot it is; an' when yeh sort it out,

Shutting yer ears to orl the sounds o' strife—

The shouts, the cheers, the curses— 'oo kin doubt

The claims uv women: mother, sweet'eart, wife?

An' 'oo's to 'ear our soljers' dyin' wish?

An' 'oo's to 'eed? . . .  "Look after Rose . . . Mafeesh!

THE GLOSSARY

For use with  'The Sentimental Bloke" and "Ginger Mick."
A.I.F. —Australian Imperial Force

Alley, to toss in the.— To give up the ghost.

Also ran, The. — On the turf, horses that fail to secure a leading

place; hence, obscure persons, nonentities.

'Ammer-lock (Hammer-lock).— A favourite and effective hold in 

wrestling.

Ar.—  An exclamation expressing joy, sorrow, surprise etc., according 

to the manner of utterance.

'Ard Case (Hard Case).— A shrewd or humorous person.

'Ayseed (Hayseed).— A rustic.

Back Chat.— Impudent repartee.

Back and Fill.— To vacillate; to shuffle.

Back the Barrer.— To intervene without invitation.

Barmy (Balmy).— Foolish; silly.

Beak.— A magistrate. (Possibly from Anglo-Saxon, Beag—a

magistrate).
Beano.— A feast.

Beans.— Coins; money.

Beat.— Puzzled; defeated.

Beat, off the.— Out of the usual routine.

Beef (to beef it out).— To declaim vociferously.

Bellers (Bellows).— The lungs.

Biff.— To smite.

Bird, to give the.— To treat with derision.

Blighter.— A worthless fellow.

Bli' me. — An oath with fangs drawn.
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THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK

Blither.— To talk at random, foolishly.

Blob.— A shapeless mass.

Block.— The head. To lose or do in the block.— To become flustered; 

excited; angry; to lose confidence.  To keep the block.— To 

remain calm; dispassionate.

Block, the.— A fashionable city walk.

Bloke.— A male adult of the genus homo.

Blubber, blub.— To weep.

Bluff.— Cunning practice; make believe; v. To deceive; to mislead.

Bob.— A shilling.

Bokays.— Compliments, flattery.

Boko.— The Nose.

Bonzer, boshter, bosker.— Adjectives expressing the superlative of 

excellence.

Bong-tong.— Patrician (Fr. bon ton).

Boodle.— Money; wealth.

Book.— A bookie, q.v.

Bookie.— A book-maker (turf); one who makes a betting book on 

sporting events.

Boot, to put in the.— To kick a prostrate foe.

Boss.— Master; employer.

Break (to break away, to do a break).— To depart in haste.

Breast up to.— To accost.

Brisket.— The chest.

Brown.— A copper coin.

Brums. — Tawdry finery (from Brummagem— Birmingham).

Buckley's (Chance).— A forlorn hope.

Buck up.— Cheer up.

Bump.— To meet; to accost aggressively.

Bun, to take the.— To take the prize (used ironically).

 

GLOSSARY

129

Bundle, to drop the.— To surrender; to give up hope.

Bunk.— To sleep in a "bunk" or rough bed. To do a bunk.— To

depart.

Bunnies, to hawk the.—  To peddle rabbits. 

Bus, to miss the.— To neglect opportunities.

Caboose.— A small dwelling.

Carlton.— A Melbourne Football Team.

Cat, to whip the.— To cry over spilt milk; i.e., to whip the cat that

has spilt the milk.

C.B.— Confined to barracks.

Cert.— A certainty; a forgone conclusion.

Champeen.— Champion.

Chase yourself.— Depart; avaunt; "fade away." q.v.

Chat.— To address tentatively; to "word," q.v.

Cheque, to pass in one's.— To depart this life.

Chest, to chew it over; to chew the rag.— To sulk; to nurse a

grievance.

Chiack.— Vulgar banter; course invective.

Chin.— To talk; to wag the chin.

Chip.— To "chat," q.v. Chip in.— To intervene.

Chiv.— The face.

Chow.— A native of far Cathay.

Chuck up.— To relinquish. Chuck off.—To chaff; to emply

sarcasm.

Chump.— A foolish fellow.

Chunk.— A lump; a mass.

Clean.— Completely; utterly.

Click.— A clique; a "push."

Cliner.— A young unmarried female.

1

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THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK

Clobber.— Raiment; vesture.

Cobber.— A boon companion.

Collect.— To receive one's deserts.

Colour-line.— In pugilism, the line drawn by white boxers excluding

coloured fighters - for divers reasons.

Conk.— The nose.

Coot.— A person of no account (used contemptuously).

Cop.— To seize; to secure; also s., an avocation, a "job."

Cop (or Copper).— A police constable.

Copper-top.— Red head.

Copper show.— A copper mine.

Count, to take the.— In pugilism, to remain prostrate for ten counted

seconds, and thus lose the fight.

Cove.— A "chap" or "bloke." q.v. (Gipsy).

Cow.— A  thoroughly unworthy, no to say despicable person, place,

thing or circumstance.

Crack.— To smite. s. A blow.

Crack a boo.— To divulge a secret; to betray emotion.

Crack hardy.— To suppress emotion; to endure patiently; to keep

a secret.

Cray.— A crayfish.

Crib.— A dwelling.

Croak.— To die.

Crook.— A dishonest or evil person.

Crook.— Unwell; dishonest; spurious; fraudulent. Superlative. Dead

Crook.

Crool (cruel) the pitch.— To frustrate; to interfere with one's

schemes or welfare.

Crust.— Sustenance; a livelihood.

Cut it out.— Omit it; discontinue it.

GLOSSARY

131

Dago.— A native of Southern Europe.

Dash, to do one's.— To reach one's Waterloo.

Date.— An appointment.

Dawg (dog).— A contemptible person; ostentation. To put on

dawg.— To behave in an arrogant manner.

Dead.— In a superlative degree; very.

Deal.— To deal it out; to administer punishment' abuse, etc.

Deener.— A shilling (Fr. Denier. Denarius, a Roman silver coin).

Derry.— An aversion; a feud; a dislike.

Dickin.— A term signifying disgust or disbelief.

Dile (dial).— The face.

Dilly.— Foolish; half-witted.

Ding Dong.— Strenuous.

Dinkum.— Honest; true. "The Dinkum Oil."— The truth.

Dirt.— Opprobrium, a mean speech or action.

Dirty left.— A formidable left fist.

Divvies.— Dividends; profits.

Dizzy limit.— The utmost; the superlative degree.

Do in.— To defeat; to kill; to spend.

Done me luck.— Lost my good fortune.

Dope.— A drug; adulterated liquor. v. To administer drugs.

Dot in the eye, to.— To strike in the eye. 

Douse.— To extinguish (Anglo-Saxon).

Drive a quill.— To write with a pen; to work in an office.

Duck, to do a.— (See "break.")

Duds.— Personal apparel (Scotch).

Dunno.— Do not know.

Dutch.— German; any native of Central Europe.

'Eads (Heads).— The authorities; inner council.

'Eadin'.— "Heading browns;" tossing pennies.