The Meekatharra Hero
Rise up you noble warriors
Australia’s boldest sons;
And stand at ease a moment
Behind Australia’s guns.
For we’ve just unearthed a hero
Who should commandeer the cake,
Who, alone and unassisted
Killed a deadly twelve inch snake.
Talks of Roosevelt in the jungle
And his tales of blood and gore.
How he killed a boa-constrictor
With his trusty forty-four;
It will pale away to nothing,
And it makes a fellow shake
When he hears of Wiltshire’s battle,
With a deadly twelve inch snake.
Twelve inches! Just remember
It would take a man of grit
and the makings of a soldier
To cause the death of it.
(Hogans Ghost) ! It makes me wonder
What’s the brand he had to take
Before he opened fire upon
That awful twelve inch snake.
When they paint this hero’s picture
In some classic gallery;
Thought it won’t be on exhibit
For the likes of you and me,
Lords and Earls will stand before it
(And I bet it makes them quake),
Gazing on the picture
Of Wiltshire and the snake.
A E Wallace
(Punlished in the book ‘Meekatharra, The End of the Earth’, by P R Heydon)
Moya Sharp
Latest posts by Moya Sharp (see all)
- The Railway Arrives in Boulder – a quiet affair - 16/11/2024
- Beware of Victorians Bearing Gifts – - 16/11/2024
- A Wedding at Maybe – - 16/11/2024
That is a great story about the 12″ Someone will laugh about such A small snake. It may be small but it’s got hell of a bite.
Yes its like the ‘redback’ song!
Very interesting…thankyou ?.