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C J Dennis - The Long Road Home
Work rating: Low

When I go back from Billy`s place I always have to roam
The mazy road, the crazy road that leads the long way home.
Ma always says, "Why don`t you come through Mr Donkin`s land?
The footbridge track will bring you back." Ma doesn`t understand.
I cannot go that way, you know, because of Donkin`s dog;
So I set forth and travel north,, and cross the fallen log.

Last week, when I was coming by, that log had lizards in it;
And you can`t say I stop to play if I just search a minute.
I look around upon the ground and, if there are no lizards,
I go right on and reach the turn in front of Mrs Blizzard`s.
I do not seek to cross the creek, because it`s deep and floody,
And Ma would be annoyed with me if I came home all muddy.

Perhaps I throw a stone or so at Mrs Blizzard`s tank,
Because it`s great when I aim straight to hear the stone go "Plank
Then west I wend from Blizzard`s Bend, and not a moment wait,
Except, perhaps, at Mr Knapp`s, to swing upon his gate.
So up the hill I go, until I reach the little paddock
That Mr Jones at present owns and rents to Mr Craddock.

For boys my size the sudden rise is quite a heavy pull,
And yet I fear a short-cut here because of Craddock`s bull;
So I just tease the bull till he`s as mad as he can get,
And then I face the corner place that`s been so long to let.
It`s very well for Ma to tell about my dawdling habits.
What would you do, suppose you knew the place was thick with rabbits?

I do not stay for half a day, as Ma declares I do,.
No, not for more than half-an-hour - perhaps an hour - or two.
Then down the drop I run, slip-slop, where all the road is slithy.
And have to go quite close, you know, to Mr Horner`s smithy.
A moment I might tarry by the fence to watch them hammer,
And, I must say, learn more that way than doing sums and grammar.

And, if I do sometimes climb through, I do not mean to linger`.
Though I did stay awhile the day Bill Homer burst his finger.
I just stand there to see the pair bang some hot iron thing
And watch Bill Horner swing the sledge and hit the anvil - Bing!
(For Mr Horner and his son are great big brawny fellows:
Both splendid chaps!) And then, perhaps, they let me blow the bellows.

A while I stop beside the shop, and talk to Mr Horner;
Then off I run, and race like fun around by Duggan`s Corner.
It`s getting late, and I don`t wait beside the creek a minute,
Except to stop, maybe, and drop a few old pebbles in it.
A few yards more, and here`s the store that`s kept by Mr Whittle-
And you can`t say I waste the day if I `ust wait… a little.

One day, you know, a year ago, a man gave me a penny,
And Mr Whittle sold me sweets (but not so very many).
You never know your luck, and so I look to see what`s new
In Mr Whittle`s window.  There`s a peppermint or two,
Some buttons and tobacco (Mr Whittle calls it "baccy"),
And fish in tins, and tape, and pins…. And then a voice calls, "Jacky!"

"I`m coming, Ma.  I`ve been so far-around by Duggan`s Corner.
I had to stay awhile to say `Good day` to Mr Horner.
I feel so fagged; I`ve tramped and dragged through mud and over logs, Ma -
I could not go short-cuts, you know, because of bulls and dogs, Ma.
The creek, Ma? Why, it`s very high ! You don`t call that a gutter?
Bill Horner chews tobacco, Ma…. I`d like some bread and butter."
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