Page 18 - eMuse Vol.9 No.03_Classical

Who’ll toll the bell? K is the letter that
I, said the Pelican Makes Kangaroo .
Again and again He can jump over me
I’ll to the bell. And then over you .
Book Review
Book Review Then dropp’d every head, L is the Lizard —
And Ceased every song,
With quickness and ease,
He runs over rocks
As onwards they sped,
All mournful along. And up the high trees .
“Twinkle, Twinkel All join in a ring, M is for mining —
With wing linking wing,
In danger and damp,
Southern Cross” And trilling and twittering, Men dig out the gold
By the light of a lamp.
Around the grave sing .
Alas, Cockatoo N is for New Zealand,
The Forgotten Folklore How low dost thou lie, I’m sorry to say,
A low, sad adieu!
The Settlers are driving
of Australian Nursery Rhymes A fond parting sigh! The Maories away.
O for Opossum
Alphabets using names for
by Robert Holden letters were popular but most Which now you can see,
came from England. An early Against the full moon
I discovered this delight- Australian version came from On the branch of a tree.
ful collection while browsing From the gum blossom . “The Young Australian Alpha- P stands for Parrot
through the titles available in I saw him die. bet” c 1871 which follows: With feathers so gay,
the National Library of Austral- Who caught his blood? A is for Australia Who tries to repeat
ia. Robert Holden is the founda- I, said the Lark Which I am told All the words that we say.
tion Director of the Museum of With this piece of bark. Is famous for Corn, Q is the Quartz
Australian Childhood in Sydney. I caught his blood. For Wool and for Gold. Where Gold does abound
In this volume he has select- B is the Black-fellow
ed a high quality set of Rhymes Who’ll make his shroud? You can now see, And R the Rich Reef
I, said the eagle
in which it is found.
from respected authors. The With my thread and needle . Lazily Sleeping
sources of his material are as I’ll make his shroud. Under a tree . S is the snake —
varied as our culture, history For its bite you must note,
and folklore, from the indige- Who’ll be the Chief Mourner? C is a Cockatoo The Doctors can really
nous tales of aeons ago right up I, said the Plover With a gay crest, Find no antidote .
to the present . For I was his lover. He Chatter and thinks he is, T is for Telegraph
The following example from I’ll be Chief Mourner. One of the best. Clever men use,
the book instantly reminded Who’ll dig his grave? D is for Diggers For sending so quickly
me of a British classic “Who I, said the Wombat Who busily seek, The best of the news.
Killed Cock Robin?”. It was still My nails for my spade. For Gold and for Jewels U is Unknown,
popular here in Australia in my I’ll dig his grave. Down by the creek. And ‘tis really the truth,
school days in the 1950s. Who’ll say a prayer? E is for Emu Too much is unknown
The following is a newer ver- I, said the Magpie Which runs very fast, To Australian youth .
sion which appears to be an My best I will try. But Black-fellow spear him V is for Velocipede
attempt by William Anderson I’ll say a prayer. And Kills him at last . Some people ride,
Cawthorne (1824 — 1897) to Who’ll bear him to his tomb? F for the Fishes With wheels and with treadles
transplant the traditional well I, said the Platypus. That swim in the sea, And Handles to guide .
known British rhyme to an Aus- On my back gently thus . But Chinamen catch them
tralian setting which he called I’ll bear him to his tomb. And sell them to me . W is the Wattle
“Who Killed Cockatoo?” Caw- A elegant tree
thorne’s version first appeared Who’ll be the parson? G stands for Gum-tree With Gum and rich blossoms
in Adelaide about 1870 . I, said the Crow Which you must learn, So pleasant to see.
Men cut into firewood
Some critics have noted Solemn and slow. X is for Ten, it is also a sign
Cawthorne lost the plot when I’ll be the parson. Ready to burn . I use for a X if you write a bad line.
he augmented his work with Who’ll carry the link? H is the Holiday Y is for the Yarra,
extra stanzas to add local col- I, said the Macaw We can all spend, And Yarra means flowing,
our . They see it as a departure With my little paw In having picnic When people take pleasure,
With a kind friend,
from a time honoured formu- I’ll carry the link. In fishing and rowing.
la. What do you think? Who’ll chant a psalm? I stands for Island Z is the last letter
I, said the Black Swan
All rocky and steep,
Who Killed Cockatoo? I’ll chant his death song Where ships have been wrecked And like the low Sun,
I, said the Mawpork, I’ll chant a psalm. In the boisterous deep. We’ve got to the finish
With my tomahawk Who’ll watch in the night? J is for Jackass Of what we begun.
I killed Cockatoo. I, said the Wild Dog, A very strange bird, From “The Young Australian Al-
Who saw him die? As he krept up from a log Whose laugh in the forrest phabet” c1871.
I, said the Opossum I’ll watch in the night. Is very absurd.

18 eMuse March 2020