Classic Poem

It's farewell to Leeton, and farewell we say,
For we shall not see it for many a day;
We march in the ranks of ten thousand times ten,
And 'twill be a long time ere we come back again. —
Come back again,
Come back again:
It will be a long time ere we come back again.

We're off to the Front and we're taking our chance —
In a very few months we'll be trenching in France,
And wishing we'd taken, with foresight and care,
Some slabs of the Clayband for parapets there. —
Parapets there,
Parapets there:
Some chunks of the Clayband for parapets there.

We'd have " worked " them and dried them for hand-bombs and shell,
And added new terrors to that earthly Hell;
And the Red Soil of Leeton — when they'd analyse —
Would have opened Old Germany's scientists' eyes! —
Scientists' eyes,
Scientists' eyes:
Would have opened Old Germany's scientists' eyes.

But we need fear no fortunes nor hardships of war,
For we tried to grow " loosen " on Hell's Hobs before;
And we'll tackle the job as experienced men,
With a courage renewed when we come back again —
Come back again,
Come back again:
They'll not call us " Misfits " who come back again.

You will find the old Settlement booming ahead,
The Clayband abolished and Politics dead.
And the Wheel-Barrow Master and all his brave men
Will be running the Show when we've come back again. —
Come back again,
Come back again:
Will be running the Show when we've come back again. —

The Government Ladies who petrol about
Will have a great Down on the Area no doubt:
For the Long-Handled-Shovel Inspector shall then
Be Resident Com. — when we've come back again. —
Come back again,
Come back again:
( He will banish " Returns " when we've come back again.)

And you'll never go thirsty, for Leslie M'Gill,
Who is brewing soft tack at the top of the hill,
His " rheumatiz " cured, and the halest of men,
He'll be keeping a pub, when we've come back again, —
Come back again,
Come back again:
As a townsman of weight, he'll be keeping the " Great
Irrigation Hotel " when we've come back again.