Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer.
The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke
C. J. Dennis
To Mr and Mrs J. G. Roberts
La vie est vaine:
Un peu d'amour,
Un peu de haine…
Et puis—bonjour!
La vie est breve:
Un peu d'espoir,
Un peu de reve…
Et puis—bonsoir!
Leon Montenaeken
Foreword
My young friend Dennis has honoured me with a request to writea preface to his book. I think a man can best write a prefaceto his own book, provided he knows it is good. Also if he knowsit is bad.
"The Sentimental Bloke", while running through the Bulletin,brightened up many dark days for me. He is more perfectthan any alleged "larrikin" or Bottle-O character I have everattempted to sketch, not even excepting my own beloved Benno.Take the first poem for instance, where the Sentimental Blokegets the hump. How many men, in how many different parts ofthe world—and of how many different languages—have had thesame feeling—the longing for something better—to be somethingbetter?
The exquisite humour of The Sentimental Bloke speaks for itself;but there's a danger that its brilliance may obscure the rest,especially for minds, of all stations, that, apart from sportand racing, are totally devoted to boiling
"The cabbitch storks or somethink"
in this social "pickle found-ery" of ours.
Doreen stands for all good women, whether down in the smotheringalleys or up in the frozen heights. And so, having introducedthe little woman (they all seem "little" women), I "dips me lid"—and stand aside.
HENRY LAWSON
SYDNEY, 1st September, 1915.
Contents
I. A SPRING SONG
The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat;…
II. THE INTRO
'Er name's Doreen…Well, spare me bloomin' days!…
III. THE STOUSH O' DAY
Ar, these is 'appy days! An' 'ow they've flown—…
IV. DOREEN
I wish't yeh meant it, Bill." Oh, 'ow me 'eart…
V. THE PLAY
"Wot's in a name?" she sez… An' then she sighs,…
VI. THE STROR 'AT COOT
Ar, wimmin! Wot a blinded fool I've been!…
VII. THE SIREN
She sung a song, an' I sat silent there….
VIII. MAR
"'Er pore dear Par," she sez, "'e kept a store";…
IX. PILOT COVE
"Young friend," 'e sez…Young friend! Well, spare me days!…
X. HITCHED
"An'—wilt—yeh—take—this—woman—fer—to—be—…
XI. BEEF TEA
She never magged; she never said no word;…
XII. UNCLE JIM
"I got no time fer wasters, lad," sez 'e,…
XIII. THE KID
My son!…Them words, jist like a blessed song,…
XIV. THE MOOCH O' LIFE
This ev'nin' I was sittin' wiv Doreen,…
I. A Spring Song
The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat;
Crool Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul;
An' all them joys o' li