Australian Bush Poetry, Verse & Music

Bush Justice

Young Jimmy was a real good bloke. Helped his neighbours - dead set: an Aussie battler through and through.

Sick wife, half a tribe of kids, hard times and a drought.

What does a young bloke do to keep his family together?

In an area where country and cattle run wild, and many young cattle aren't branded, some "mistakes" are made.

This one's a real laugh!!

Hope you enjoy it.

By the way, it could never have happened.

Or could it??

Bush Justice

Copyright – Dennis Scanlon

Young Jimmy lived out in the scrub, way up north, in Queensland.
He mustered cattle 'round the place and then applied a cross brand.
The stock squad wandered through his yard one hot and dusty day -
Found twenty head of stolen stock: handcuffed him straight away.

The small bush district court was packed the day Jimmy came to trial,
Thirty degrees in the water bag - humidity was vile.
His counsel said "he's innocent!" Jim's too decent a bloke!"
Jimmy's mates who watched the trial thought it must have been a joke.

Everybody knew that Jim was dealin' in "warm" cattle;
The season had been flamin' hard, with ten kids, he'd had a battle.
His Missus, she'd been really sick, with doctors' bills arrivin',
Dead set; anyone would know how hard it was survivin'.

His other well known attribute was how he helped his neighbours;
A "scallywag" but a "good bloke" too he'd help 'em with their labours.
And in that hot and stuffy court sat twelve "good" men: and "true,"
Who mostly knew young Jimmy and knew he was "true blue."

The prosecution closed the case with evidence so strong -
There seemed no doubt our Jimmy was completely in the wrong.
The jury didn't argue much - there wasn't any sense:
There really hadn't been a stitch of what you'd call "defence."

They trundled in and took their seats - the foreman stood up, proud,
And when asked for the verdict, in a strong voice, said, real loud:
"We find young Jim not guilty: we've had a 'dinkum' battle,
But we all agree he really should return the twenty cattle!"

The judge near done a double flip - he almost broke his gavel!
How could he ever sort this out? Who could, this mess, unravel?
He thundered at the foreman: "You've all made a mistake!!
Go back and re-consider- a new decision, make!!"

Three hours, it took, 'till they came back - not smilin' any longer!
The temperature was risin' and the tension gettin' stronger.
The foreman stood up straight away - his strength they wouldn't rattle:
"We find young Jim not guilty - and he can keep the flamin' cattle!!!!!"

Back to Dennis Scanlon Main Page

Back To Top Of Page

Our currently featured poet is:-

Wayne Pantall

Wayne is the latest poet to have his work on the site. Read his poetry and book him for a performance! Click on his photo for access to his pages.