On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,
And men of religion are scanty,
On a road never cross'd 'cept by folk that are lost,
One Michael Magee had a shanty.
Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad,
Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;
He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest
For the youngster had never been christened.
And his wife used to cry, `If the darlin' should die
Saint Peter would not recognise him.'
But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived,
Who agreed straightaway to baptise him.
Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,
With his ear to the keyhole was listenin',
And he muttered in fright, while his features turned white,
`What the divil and all is this christenin'?'
He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,
And it seemed to his small understanding,
If the man in the frock made him one of the flock,
It must mean something very like branding.
So away with a rush he set off for the bush,
While the tears in his eyelids they glistened —
`'Tis outrageous,' says he, `to brand youngsters like me,
I'll be dashed if I'll stop to be christened!'
Like a young native dog he ran into a log,
And his father with language uncivil,
Never heeding the `praste' cried aloud in his haste,
`Come out and be christened, you divil!'
But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,
And his parents in vain might reprove him,
Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke)
`I've a notion,' says he, `that'll move him.'
`Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;
Poke him aisy — don't hurt him or maim him,
'Tis not long that he'll stand, I've the water at hand,
As he rushes out this end I'll name him.
`Here he comes, and for shame! ye've forgotten the name —
Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?'
Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout —
`Take your chance, anyhow, wid `Maginnis'!'
As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub
Where he knew that pursuit would be risky,
The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head
That was labelled `MAGINNIS'S WHISKY'!
And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,
And the one thing he hates more than sin is
To be asked by the folk, who have heard of the joke,
How he came to be christened `Maginnis'!
Notes
The Barcoo Shire is a remote rural shire located in western Queensland in the heart of the channel country. Encompassing the towns of Jundah, Windorah and Stonehenge with a total shire population of approximately 460.
The Shire’s primary river systems are the Thomson and Barcoo, which amalgamate above Windorah to become Cooper’s Creek. All rivers and creeks within the Shire merge and flow southwest towards South Australia, terminating at Lake Eyre.
Covering a region of 60901sq km, the Barcoo Shire adjoins the North-East, South Australian border and is bordered by the shires of Diamantina, Longreach, Winton, Isisford, Quilpie and Bulloo. The country displays extremes of dry red expanses to flooding plains with masses of wildflowers.
The Shire's predominant industry is beef production with opal mining, tourism and hospitality to a lesser extent. Due to drought and economics wool production has declined considerably. The discovery of oil and gas reserves within the shire has seen substantial development in this industry.
Maggee's Shanty
Approximately 90km from Jundah towards Yaraka is the historic site of the shanty immortalised in Banjo Patterson's poem "A Bush Christening", not far from the ruins of the Cobb & Co pub and the lonely grave of goldminer Richard Magoffin who perished in 1885.
In a published book
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A bush christening
From guest Rosemary Caswell (contact)
I first read this poem when I was 5 years old, and I have loved it ever since, I am now more than 65. It was in a book of Banjo Pettersons complete poems sent to me by an Australian Uncle Jim during the second world war. -
Assignment
From guest Nick (contact)
What are the themes are there and are there any deep and meaningful messages/meaning in this poem -
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deep and meaningful.
From guest Siobhan (contact)
I am also studing this poem in english, and wanted to enquire whether or not there were any hidden deep and meaningful meanings contained in this poem. -
homework
From guest caitlin (contact)
i'm doing this poem for an assignment in english,, i was wondering what era of history it addresses? -
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Guest Caitlin (and others) The date of the poem is given in the top right hand corner. Clearly late nineteenth century.
There are also extensive notes and comments on this poem as on many others.
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vesna - I have added information about 'The Barcoo' above for you - I hope it helps to make the poem even more enjoyable for you. the 'outer Barcoo' refers to the far reaches of the shire.
Vonnie
Oldpoetry Team -
im doing this poem for my esb (english speaking board) assesment - does anyone know where outerbarcoo is ? ?
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are these the original words of the poem - a bush christening by banjo paterson ? ?
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So typical of Banjo Paterson - I love his rhyming scheme and the reader cannot help but be dragged along with the rhythm and the humour here.
Barcoo - Is in Queensland Australia - home to a bushranger called 'Captain Starlight'.
~Von~
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