We're away! and the wind whistles shrewd
In our whiskers and teeth;
And the granite-like grey of the road
Seems to slide underneath.
As an eagle might sweep through the sky,
So we sweep through the land;
And the pallid pedestrians fly
When they hear us at hand.
We outpace, we outlast, we outstrip!
Not the fast-fleeing hare,
Nor the racehorses under the whip,
Nor the birds of the air
Can compete with our swiftness sublime,
Our ease and our grace.
We annihilate chickens and time
And policemen and space.
Do you mind that fat grocer who crossed?
How he dropped down to pray
In the road when he saw he was lost;
How he melted away
Underneath, and there rang through the fog
His earsplitting squeal
As he went — Is that he or a dog,
That stuff on the wheel?
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
-
Reading this reminds me that Banjo was more of a city-man than a countryman in later life, although the bush is where he was raised and were his spirits lay.
I am surprised that he claims superiority of the automobile over the horse in those days given his sympathy for four legged friends. Talking of which it would have to have been the grocer for I am sure he wouldn't treat a dog like that!
-
September 2003 was the date I first read this poem and I've enjoyed it again today. Those 2 final lines leave a lot to the imagination though I guess it was the grocer lol
1905 this was written - motor cars so new to the World, more-so in Australia. Our dirt roads back then would have shaken bones loose. This is a fact as they still did this in the 70's. I love this! ~Von~ -
Banjo is a favourite of mine and this is the first time I have found a reference to a motor car. Written 1901 and first published 1905. There were few roads in the late 1930's that were sealed as they mostly are today and I can only imagine what they drove their first cars on. I like the poem immensely.
-
-
You might enjoy this poem too Bob, written in Australia by Alice Guerin Crist:
http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/show/25315-Alice-Guerin-Crist-Old-Tin-Liz
Von~
-
-
Shocking!
Charley Noble -
This was great. Had to read it twice to really understand, but that may be because im kind of ADD today. Wonderful piece.
pixie -
This poem is the first reference I have found which includes a car rather than a horse. 1905 is the timeframe and the ride through the bush and dirt roads back then would have been a good time to keep one's mouth closed. the final line made me laugh.
Enjoyed very much
Von
Adding your comment:
1 - 7 of 7
