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C J Dennis - Sari Bair
Work rating: Low

So, they`ve struck their streak o` trouble, an` they got it in the neck,
An` there`s more than one ole pal o` mine `as `anded in `is check;
But Ginger still takes nourishment; `e`s well, but breathin` `ard.
An` so `e sends the strength uv it scrawled on a chunk uv card.

"On the day we `it the transport there wus cheerin` on the pier,
An` the girls wus wavin` hankies as they dropped a partin` tear,
An` we felt like little `eroes as we watched the crowd recede,
Fer we sailed to prove Australia, an` our boastin` uv the breed.

"There wus Trent, ex~toff, uv England; there wus Green, ex-pug, uv `Loo;
There wus me, an` Craig uv Queensland, wiv `is `ulkin` six-foot-two:
An` little Smith uv Collin`wood, `oo `owled a rag-time air.
On the day we left the Leeuwin, bound nor`-west for Gawd-knows-where.

"On the day we come to Cairo wiv its niggers an` its din,
To fill our eyes wiv desert sand, our souls wiv Eastern sin,
There wus cursin` an` complainin`; we wus `ungerin` fer fight -
Little imertation soljers full uv vanity an` skite.

"Then they worked us - Gawd! they worked us, till we knoo wot drillin` meant;
Till men begun to feel like men, an` wasters to repent,
Till we grew to `ate all Egyp`, an` its desert, an` its stinks:
On the days we drilled at Mena in the shadder uv the Sphinx.

"Then Green uv Sydney swore an oath they meant to `old us tight,
A crowd uv flarnin` ornaments wivout a chance to fight;
But little Smith uv Collin`wood, he whistled `im a toon,
An` sez, `Aw, take a pull. lad, there`ll be whips o` stoushin` soom.`

"Then the waitin`, weary waitin`, while we itched to meet the foe!
But we`d done wiv fancy skitin` an` the comic op`ra show.
We wus soljers - finished soljers, an` we felt it in our veins
On the day we trod the desert on ole Egyp`s sandy plains.

"An` Trent `e said it wus a bore, an` all uv us wus blue,
An` Craig, the giant, never joked the way `e used to do.
But little Smith uv Collin`wood `e `ummed a little song,
An` said, `You leave it to the `eads. O now we sha`n`t be long!`

"Then Sari Bair, O Sari Bair, `twus you wot seen it done,
The day the transports rode yer bay beneath a smilin` sun.
We boasted much, an` toasted much; but where yer tide line creeps,
`Twus you, me dainty Sari Bair, that seen us play fer keeps.

"We wus full uv savage skitin` while they kep` us on the shelf -
(Now I tell yeh, square an` `onest, I wus doubtin` us meself);
But we proved it, good an` plenty, that our lads can do an` dare,
On the day we walloped Abdul o`er the sands o` Sari Bair.

"Luck wus out wiv Green uv Sydney, where `e stood at my right `and,
Fer they plunked `im on the transport `fore `e got a chance to land.
Then I saw `em kill a feller wot I knoo in Camberwell,
Somethin` sort o` went inside me - an` the rest wus bloody `ell.

"Thro` the smoke I seen `im strivin`, Craig uv Queensland, tall an` strong,
Like an `arvester at `ay-time singin`, swingin` to the song.
An` little Smith uv Collin`wood, `e `owled a fightin` tune,
On the day we chased Mahomet over Sari`s sandy dune.

"An` Sari Bair, O Sari Bair, you seen `ow it wus done,
The transports dancin` in yer bay beneath the bonzer sun;
An` speckled o`er yer gleamin` shore the little `uddled `eaps
That showed at last the Southern breed could play the game fer keeps.

"We found `im, Craig uv Queensland, stark, `is `and still on `is gun.
We found too many more besides, when that fierce scrap wus done.
An` little Smith uv Collin`wood, he crooned a mournful air,
The night we planted `em beneath the sands uv Sari Bair.

"On the day we took the transport there wus cheerin` on the pier,
An` we wus little chiner gawds; an` now we`re sittin` `ere,
Wiv the taste uv blood an` battle on the lips uv ev`ry man
An` ev`ry man jist `opin` fer to end as we began.

"Fer Green is gone, an` Craig is gone, an` Gawd! `ow many more!
Who sleep the sleep at Sari Bair beside that sunny shore!
An` little Smith uv Collin`wood, a bandage `round `is `ead,
He `ums a savage song an` vows quick vengeance fer the dead.

"But Sari Bair, me Sari Bair, the secrets that you `old
Will shake the `earts uv Southern men when all the tale is told;
An` when they git the strength uv it, there`ll never be the need
To call too loud fer fightin` men among the Southern breed."
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