The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses (John O’Brien 1954)

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Pastor of St Mel’s Well now, it’s over forty years, the parish record tells, Since I stepped out with fine ideas promoted to St Mel’s. A coming place, a rising town, … [Read more...] about The Pastor of St Mel’s [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Himself and Myself We’re yoke mates: I cannot say whether ’Twas chance or design or decree That has thrown us thus closely together, My curate and me. We differ on all … [Read more...] about Himself and Myself [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Cooney’s Daughter Well, we’ve married Cooney’s daughter with a mighty hullabaloo, And I could wish the lot of them as far as Timbuctoo. Huh! The airs of Cooney’s daughter … [Read more...] about Cooney’s Daughter [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Sittin’ be the Wall Tickets, seven and a tanner; and the school was decorated By the women of the parish with fal-dal-dums without end: ’Twas the Big Ball of the Season, … [Read more...] about Sittin’ be the Wall [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Sing Me a Song Sing me a song with the ring of truth in it, Sing me a song with the freshness of youth in it, Chant me a paean of joy; I’m tired of the dirge with … [Read more...] about Sing Me a Song [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Kites That We Used To Fly. We flew them high, when the world was ours — for its ways were yet untrod — and they sped to fields of the starry flowers That lie at the … [Read more...] about The Kites That We Used To Fly [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Field of the Cloth of Gold Oh, the hireling sun in a slipshod way Is a-slant on the city street, But the heart of him’s back in the bush today And a-tune to the … [Read more...] about The Field of the Cloth of Gold [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Saffron Thistles They took possession one by one Of every paddock on the run; And round the fire when tea was done — Our potent views expressing — We smoked our pipes … [Read more...] about Saffron Thistles [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] I Come, Dear Lord, Each Morning I come, dear Lord, each morning, And bring my load of cares, That Thy sweet grace, forewarning, Might keep me unawares; Thy sainted ones … [Read more...] about I Come, Dear Lord, Each Morning [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The One-Ton Truck Oh, the old life closed and the new began, and the world changed o’er and o’er, Since we drove to Mass in the Shandhra-dhan* in the colourful days of … [Read more...] about The One-Ton Truck [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Day th’ Inspector Comes It doesn’t seem like school at all The day th’ Inspector comes; You’d think the youngsters, big and small Were shined up for a fancy ball … [Read more...] about The Day th’ Inspector Comes [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Kids in the School As I look through the school in the morning I intrude on the youngsters at work With grave faces all levity scorning, But I am proud of the … [Read more...] about The Kids in the School [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Sez She For years herself and Mrs Bain Had run the parish dance, So asking them to act again Seemed just a circumstance; But, man, the peevish gub of her, The smart … [Read more...] about Sez She [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] My Curate, Father Con Well, here’s a fearsome telegram with Latin words thereon; Begob, they’ve made a bishop of My Curate, Father Con! Well, well! My curate! Let it … [Read more...] about My Curate, Father Con [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Ten-Twelve Shebang She never had no side-doors, and she never had no screen, Such things were not invented when they built that old machine; The paint is none too clever, … [Read more...] about Ten-Twelve Shebang [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Twin Cylinders Some minds are only fake machines That run on tommyrot: They sound like eights or V-sixteens And fire on all they’ve got — On every dope that comes to … [Read more...] about Twin Cylinders [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] At Home He can stand the noisy racket of the workshop And the thousand daily worries that beset, He can shed the lot with ease with his oily dungarees, Hang them up and … [Read more...] about At Home [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] When the “Sut” Drops Down A smile lights up Old Bridgie’s face and corrugates her features small When in the kitchen fireplace the soot-lumps from the chimney fall. “’Tis … [Read more...] about When the “Sut” Drops Down [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Old Home ’Twas when the crisis came to us, and failure was the prize For toil that never shirked the task through all the weary years, That we were forced to leave … [Read more...] about The Old Home [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] Little Churches ’Twas the olden prophet saw them — when a niggard generation Brought its weak things and its blind things to the sacrificial stone, Saw the countless … [Read more...] about Little Churches [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]

[Editor: This poem by John O’Brien was published in The Parish of St Mel’s and Other Verses, 1954.] The Bush P.P.* With a wave of respect to the worthy three, Archbishop, Archpriest, Archdeacon, I give you the toast of the Bush P.P. A leader of men, and a … [Read more...] about The Bush P.P. [poem by John O’Brien, 1954]