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C J Dennis - The Drought King`s Trumpeter
Work rating: Low

Said old Pete, the Pensioner: 
   "I met him down the road
Where, twixt the shadders of the gums,
   The silver moonlight flowed.
His skin was white like shrivelled grass,
   His eyes was eyes o` flame.
He was the Drought King`s trumpeter,  
   An` tooted as he came.
He tooted on a holler bone, of some thing dead o` thirst, 
Like dry winds a-moanin` low.  Then into song he burst:  

"Ho! The Drought King`s a-comin, as he came to men afore,
Out of his home within the sun. They`re flingin` wide the door.
   Then shall Folly flee before him an` Destruction spread behind.
   He comes to purify the earth an` chasten humankind. . . .,`
I saw the Drought King`s trumpeter as plain as I see you.
An` not a drop inside o` me -- save, maybe, one or two."

Said old Pete, "I saw him there
   Underneath the moon,
He tooted on his holler bone
   An` danced a rigadoon.
I took one look into his face
   Then fled into the night;
I fell in thro` my old hut door
   An` banged an` barred it tight.
But thro` the night I heard him there; the way he keened an` cried,
The callin` of the curlew was sweet melody beside.

"Ho!  The Drought King`s a-comin` from his home within the sun
To lay his curse upon the earth for sins that men have done.
   Grace ye had an` gifts ye had, but gambled `em away
   An` schemed to make a mockery of many a fruitful day. . . .`
I tell yeh, man, `twas not the wind!  I heard him at my door.
An` ne`er a drop inside o` me -- save maybe, three or four."
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