The Animals Noah Forgot

White Cockatoos
 by Andrew Barton Paterson ('Banjo')

Now the autumn maize is growing,

Now the corn-cob fills,

Where the Little River flowing

Winds among the hills.

Over mountain peaks outlying

Clear against the blue

Comes a scout in silence flying,

One white cockatoo.

Back he goes to where the meeting

Waits among the trees.

Says, "The corn is fit for eating;

Hurry, if you please."

Skirmishers, their line extendiing,

Shout the joyful news;

Down they drop like snow descending,

Clouds of cockatoos.

At their husking competition

Hear them screech and yell.

On a gum tree's high position

Sits a sentinel.

Soon the boss goes boundary riding;

But the wise old bird,

Mute among the branches hiding,

Never says a word.

Then you hear the strident squalling:

"Here's the boss's son,

Through the garden bushes crawling,

Crawling with a gun.

May the shiny cactus bristles

Fill his soul with woe;

May his knees get full of thistles.

Brothers, let us go."

Old Black Harry sees them going,

Sketches Nature's plan:

"That one cocky too much knowing,

All same Chinaman.

One eye shut and one eye winkin' --

Never shut the two;

Chinaman go dead, me thinkin',

Jump up cockatoo."
~~~

Eeeck! We are being invaded by nature. Holiday antics in our back yard include visits from cockatoos and blue-tongue lizards.  The children, plus neighbouring children, are attempting to catch the poor lizards under an old wire freezer drawer.  I am clinging to the railings.  It reminds me of the time we had a rat.  Never were we as glad  as we were when Daddy arrived home that evening and capably dealt with the vermin.  I have an acute aversion to reptiles.  I shall only venture downstairs with a broomstick from now on.