Bush Poet’s Heaven by Tony Hammill imagines a cheeky way through the pearly gates: arrive with a mob of cattle and keep St Peter too busy to check your name.
Once inside, there’s a Poets’ Breakfast to organise, with Gabriel on the trumpet and Gordon, Paterson, Lawson and Ogilvie on the bill. It’s a warm, mischievous tribute to the bush verse greats and the joy of hearing their words performed.
Bush Poet’s Heaven
By Tony Hammill
When I depart and front St Peter, I’ve a little plan
To guarantee that I’ll pass muster there, and beat the man!
I’ll drive a mob of cattle through those gleaming pearly gates,
And holler, “I’ve no time to gab! I’m here to meet me mates!”
My whip, the noise and dust will put old Peter off his game –
I’ll have a win; he’ll let me in and never check my name!
I’ll organise a Poets’ Breakfast up at Heaven Hall,
And Gabriel will blow his trumpet, summoning them all.
Those tried and true performers from the ABPA force
Will entertain the crowd to bouts of wild applause (of course!);
But then I’ll introduce the bards whose fame knows no constraints:
The legends whom we idolize and hail as bush verse saints!
Sad Gordon will recite his dying stockman’s monologue,
Proud Paterson ‘The Man’ and take Matilda for a jog;
And Lawson quoting ‘Sweeney’ will be something rather grand,
Especially while swigging from the bottle in his hand!
Will Ogilvie will close the show with ‘Northward to the Sheds’,
And rave about gray nags until we’re set to lose our heads!
I’ll cop some news (touch a poet’s soul):
The Southern Cross is looking down a big black hole.
With saddles and mokes we’ll-for-leather ride southern skies,
Until we reach the other side.
For supper johnnycakes and beer we’ll do rations to the end,
And angels can join us at flat out at a bend.
No lines, no rules, we’ll wander back on starry track!
His verse is fine. Our campfires will tell the folk:
Don’t worry; it’s just the old blue company out for a day!
Now the moral is short, but clear as a bell:
Bush verse is divine; if you don’t like it, go to hell!
Keeping The Verse Alive
Bush Poet’s Heaven is shared with permission from Tony Hammill through Keeping The Verse Alive, Country Campfire’s bush poetry preservation project.
By preserving poems like this, we’re helping ensure the stories, humour and characters of country Australia continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Tony Hammill
Award-Winning Bush Poet • Australian History Writer • Researcher • Retired Teacher
Tony Hammill is an award-winning bush poet and Australian history writer whose research explores folklore, historical figures and the stories behind Australian legends.
Poems, recitals, photographs, stories and original works remain the property of their original creator and are shared by Country Campfire with permission.
