The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke

Excerpt

Foreword

My young friend Dennis has honoured me with a request to write a preface to his book. I think a man can best write a preface to his own book, provided he knows it is good. Also if he knows it is bad.

"The Sentimental Bloke", while running through the Bulletin, brightened up many dark days for me. He is more perfect than any alleged "larrikin" or Bottle-O character I have ever attempted to sketch, not even excepting my own beloved Benno. Take the first poem for instance, where the Sentimental Bloke gets the hump. How many men, in how many different parts of the world—and of how many different languages—have had the same feeling—the longing for something better—to be something better?

The exquisite humour of The Sentimental Bloke speaks for itself; but there's a danger that its brilliance may obscure the rest, especially for minds, of all stations, that, apart from sport and racing, are totally devoted to boiling

"The cabbitch storks or somethink"

in this social "pickle found-ery" of ours.

Doreen stands for all good women, whether down in the smothering alleys or up in the frozen heights. And so, having introduced the little woman (they all seem "little" women), I "dips me lid"— and stand aside.

HENRY LAWSON
  SYDNEY, 1st September, 1915.

Contents

  I. A SPRING SONG
        The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat;…

  II. THE INTRO
        'Er name's Doreen…Well, spare me bloomin' days!…

  III. THE STOUSH O' DAY
        Ar, these is 'appy days! An' 'ow they've flown—…

  IV. DOREEN
        I wish't yeh meant it, Bill." Oh, 'ow me 'eart…

  V. THE PLAY
        "Wot's in a name?" she sez… An' then she sighs,…

  VI. THE STROR 'AT COOT
        Ar, wimmin! Wot a blinded fool I've been!…

  VII. THE SIREN
         She sung a song, an' I sat silent there….

  VIII. MAR
         "'Er pore dear Par," she sez, "'e kept a store";…

  IX. PILOT COVE
         "Young friend," 'e sez…Young friend! Well, spare me days!…

  X. HITCHED
         "An'—wilt—yeh—take—this—woman—fer—to—be—…

  XI. BEEF TEA
         She never magged; she never said no word;…

  XII. UNCLE JIM
         "I got no time fer wasters, lad," sez 'e,…

  XIII. THE KID
         My son!…Them words, jist like a blessed song,…

  XIV. THE MOOCH O' LIFE
         This ev'nin' I was sittin' wiv Doreen,…

THE GLOSSARY

I. A Spring Song

  The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat;
    Crool Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul;
  An' all them joys o' life I 'eld so sweet
    Is up the pole.
  Fer, as the poit sez, me 'eart 'as got
    The pip wiv yearnin' fer—I dunno wot.

  I'm crook; me name is Mud; I've done me dash;
    Me flamin' spirit's got the flamin' 'ump!
  I'm longin' to let loose on somethin' rash….
    Aw, I'm a chump!
  I know it; but this blimed ole Springtime craze
    Fair outs me, on these dilly, silly days....