It's Montana New Zealand Poetry Day!!!
As promised, I thought I would share with you one of my favourite poems from a NZ author. This poem by Dennis Glover was first read to me (and probably thousands of other kiwi kids) at primary school and I immediately loved the onomatopoeia - being a farm girl I completely identified with it. I learnt it by heart and can still remember it almost word perfect.
The MagpiesAs promised, I thought I would share with you one of my favourite poems from a NZ author. This poem by Dennis Glover was first read to me (and probably thousands of other kiwi kids) at primary school and I immediately loved the onomatopoeia - being a farm girl I completely identified with it. I learnt it by heart and can still remember it almost word perfect.
When Tom and Elizabeth took the farm
The bracken made their bed
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Tom's hand was strong to the plough
and Elizabeth's lips were red
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Year in year out they worked
while the pines grew overhead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
But all the beautiful crops soon went
to the mortgage man instead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
Elizabeth is dead now (it's long ago)
Old Tom's gone light in the head
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said
The farms still there. Mortgage corporations
couldn't give it away
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies say.
- Dennis Glover
And while I love the poem, magpies are one of those creatures that make my blood run cold with their beady little hate-filled eyes and their razor sharp talons and beak just waiting to dive bomb you as you innocently cycle home from school... *shudder*
2 comments:
How very cute! I wonder if we'd get away with writing things like "Old Tom's gone light in the head" in this PC age. ;-)
I also have less than fond memories of magpies trying to attack anything shiny (hairclips, badges, eyes) during nesting season and for chasing and swooping on my pet pigeons while I was growing up. They may look and sound beautiful, but don't be deceived! I still find it hard to see how some people treat them like pets.
I've never heard that poem before! I'm not sure how I missed it growing up.
The magpies at the park HATE my dog (and only MY dog), they chase him for about 200 metres swooping and I hear them snapping as they try to peck him.
Friends of mine found one as a baby and raised him by hand. He was so un-magpie! He used to lay on his back in their arms at night watching tv, hoping they'd stroke his tummy lol.
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