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C J Dennis - Dad
Work rating: Low

I`ve knowed ole Flood this last five year or more;
I knoo `im when `is Syd went to the war.
   A proud ole man `e was. But I`ve watched `im,
   An` seen `is look when people spoke uv Jim:
As sour a look as most coves want to see.
It made me glad that this `ere Jim weren`t me.

I sized up Flood the first day that we met --
Stubborn as blazes when `is mind is set,
   Ole-fashioned in `is looks an` in `is ways,
   Believin` it is honesty that pays;
An` still dead set, in spite uv bumps `e`s got,
To keep on honest if it pays or not.

Poor ole Dad Flood, `e is too old to fight
By close on thirty year; but if I`m right
   About `is doin`s an` about `is grit,
   `E`s done a fair bit over `is fair bit.
They are too old to fight, but, all the same,
`Is kind`s quite young enough to play the game.

I`ve `eard it called, this war - an` it`s the truth --
I`ve `eard it called the sacrifice uv youth.
   An` all this land `as reckernized it too,
   An` gives the boys the praises that is doo.
I`ve `eard the cheers for ev`ry fightin` lad;
But, up to now, I ain`t `eard none for Dad.

Ole Flood, an` all `is kind throughout the land,
They aint` been `eralded with no brass band,
   Or been much thought about; but, take my tip,
   The war `as found them with a stiffened lip.
`Umpin` a load they thought they`d dropped for good,
Crackin` reel `ardy, an` -- jist sawin` wood.

Dad Flood, `is back is bent, `is strength is gone;
`E`d done `is bit before this war come on.
   At sixty-five `e thought `is work was done;
   `E gave the farmin` over to `is son,
An` jist sat back in peace, with `is ole wife,
To spend content the ev`nin` of `is life.

Then comes the war. An` when Syd `esitates
Between the ole folk an` `is fightin` mates,
   The ole man goes outside an` grabs a hoe.
   Sez `e, "Yeh want to, an` yeh ought to go.
Wot`s stoppin` yeh?" `E straightens `is ole frame.
"Ain`t I farmed long enough to know the game?"

There weren`t no more to say. An` Syd went -- West:
Into the sunset with ole Aussie`s best.
   But no one ever `eard no groans from Dad.
   Though all `is pride an` `ope was in that lad
`E showed no sign excep` to grow more grim.
`Is son was gone - an` it was up to `im.

One day last month when I was down at Flood`s
I see `im strugglin` with a bag uv spuds.
   "Look `ere," I sez, "you let me spell yeh, Dad.
   You `umpin` loads like that`s a bit too bad."
`E gives a grunt that`s more than `alf a groan.
"Wot`s up?" `e snaps. "Got no work uv yer own?"

That`s `im. But I`ve been tippin` that the pace
Would tell; an` when `is wife comes to our place,
   An` sez that Dad `is ill an` took to bed,
   Flat out with work - though that ain`t wot she said --
I ain`t surprised; an` tells `er when I`m thro`
I`ll come across an` see wot I can do.

I went across, an` -- I come back again.
Strike me! it`s no use reas`nin` with some men.
   Stubbon ole cows! I`m sick uv them ole fools.
   The way `e yells, "Keep yer `ands off my tools!"
Yeh`d think I was a thief. `Is missus said
I`d better slope, or `e`d be out uv bed.

`E `eard us talkin` through the open door,
"Oo`s that?" he croaks, although `e tries to roar.
   An` when `is wife explains it`s only me
   To `elp a bit: "I want no charity!"
`E barks. "I`ll do me work meself, yeh `ear?"
An` then `e gits so snarky that I clear.

But `e`ll do me. I like the ole boy`s nerve.
We don`t do nothin` that `e don`t deserve;
   But me an` Peter Begg an` ole man Poole,
   We fairly `as our work cut out to fool
The sly ole fox, when we sneaks down each day
An` works a while to keep things under way.

We digs a bit, an` ploughs a bit, an` chops
The wood, an` does the needful to `is crops.
   We does it soft, an` when `e `ears a row
   `Is missus tells `im it`s the dog or cow.
`E sez that it`s queer noises for a pup.
An` -- there`ll be ructions when ole Flood gits up.

It ain`t all overwork that`s laid `im out.
Ole Pride in `im is fightin` `ard with Doubt.
   To-day `is wife sez, "Somethin`s strange in `im,
   For in `is sleep sometimes `e calls for Jim.
It`s six long years," she sez, an` stops to shake
`Er `ead. "But `e don`t mention `im awake."

Dad Flood. I thought `im jist a stiff-necked fool
Before the war; but, as I sez to Poole,
   This war `as tested more than fightin` men.
   But, say, `e is an` `oly terror when
Friends try to `elp `im earn a bite an` sup.
Oh, there`ll be `Ell to pay when `e gits up!
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