M.A.D.

M.A.D.

She was big and broad and buxom, and her arms were like tree trunks
She didn’t need assistance when dealing with the drunks
Through she had no schooling; she could read you like a book
The first time that I saw her riled I tell you my knees shook
Yet at times she could be gentle, and would try to understand
Why some good men took to drink when beaten by this land
But you never asked for credit it was the first rule of the house
If she called out for order one was quiet like a mouse

Mary Ann Delaney had been brought up on a farm
Her father was a drover who dispensed a lot of charm
And her mother’s education did not save her from his spell
She promised Jack he would have her love even into hell
When Mary Ann was only twelve a snake bite took her mother
She found herself all alone one day without a sister or a brother
Each day she did the milking then collected new laid eggs
Until she saw her father coming on a horse with tired legs

“I am only staying long enough to straighten things and so
Change your clobber wear my strides we got to earn some dough”
Mary Ann then joined the drive and helped out with the tucker
No horse was ever found with skill or strength enough to buck her
She proved her worth a hundred ways fearless but never bold
The hearts of men she won with pride but none gave ring of gold
When the teenage years had past she found herself at twenty
The toast of her working mates true blue she had plenty

She had been careful with the money they earned while droving
And planned that they would settle down and give away the roving
So when Jack fell from his horse his right leg badly shattered
She had enough to buy a pub and that was all that mattered
They struggled hard to make a start and see the pub a goer
That is why you paid up front and they never had an ower
Mary Ann could man handle beer in kegs but mostly barrels
She threw out any silly lout that set himself for quarrels

One day she went to get some wood and there she met a stranger
Who said that he would lend a hand to load he was the parks lone ranger
As they worked they talked of things and found neither was attached
And when it came to doing work they both were evenly matched
John was his name he never drank ,or smoked nor one to start a fight
He believed in fairness in all things and defended what was right
When the load was ready and they were saying their goodbyes
You could see a change in Mary Ann there was love light in her eyes

The pub used lots of wood that week she would need another load
So off into the park this time she knew that John was the goad
She picked a spot in the forest glade where tall trees gave protection
John soon arrived when he heard sound coming in his direction
H e said that Mary Ann could load and he would do the cutting
Soon they had a ute piled high and over the sides were jutting
They sat and talked awhile then brought the billy to the boil
Mary Ann produced a feast for John to thank him for his toil

As time went on they got to know what was in each others heart
And they met quite often and found it very hard to part
John paid court to Mary Ann and asked her to be his bride
When she said yes to John’s request he nearly burst with pride.
All those years of pent up love poured out of Mary Ann
And she gave it all to ranger John imagine it if you can
People still talk about that wedding they came from near and far
The church was overflowing then the reception was in the bar

Mary Ann stopped working in the bar especially at night
And a manager was soon found to see that all was right
Within twelve months of their wedding Mary Ann had borne twins
John shouted for the house and the bar room was full of grins
Those two boys kept them busy morning noon and night
Then twin girls added to the tally and everything was right
No parents ever were as happy as Mary Ann and John
I know because I am their oldest son and their love lives on
© Nov.2005 J.J.Hasson

Australian Bush Poetry, Verse & Music Forum

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