"SPRING SONG"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 234, 6 November 1940, Page 8

"SPRING SONG"

AN EPIC OF DAIRYING THOUGHTS "UNDER A COW" 1 Here is an epic of dairying. The sentiments expressed will be found by every cow cockie to be very apt. The title is "Spring Song." The morning broke soaking and cheerless; It's raining a perishing Hood; It's miry and mucky and draughty and damp, and the yard is a welter of mud; The blackbirds, so boisterous and cheery, Have lost all their frolic and row; On fence-post and tree, they're as dreary as me, In here—sitting under a cow. A dozen depressed-looking Jerseys, Hock-deep in the foul smelling mud, Wet through to the hide, are waiting outside, dejectedly chewing the cud; Six others, all bailed rip and legroped,. Are yielding their prbfit just now; With no one to sec that they do it [ but me— In here, sitting under a cow. The wind''whistles cold through the doorway, The leg-ropes are sodden and hard: The steam rises rank, from muzzle and flank, and the bails are as wet as the yard; A cold, swinging tail-tip deposits A dollop of lilth on my brow; Which I wipe (Avith a curse)., and my hand makes it Avorse!' O Life! —sitting under a cow! Mud cakes on the udder and nipples, With cracks and raw patches beneath; , ' ' (Old Blossom, avlio's sore on three of the four, I milk Avith 1 my life in my teeth.) V.C's and such medals "For Valour'' Are honestly AA'on, I 1 allow; But how avouUl it be to give the "U.C." "For Bravery Under a Cow"? The steamers to hungry Old England Take shiploads of butter and cheese. All labelled and Aveighcd,, "Best Superfine Grade, New Zealand, and Certain to Please." Why,, bless my soul, Daisy, old darling, King Goorge, with the Crown on his brow, May spread the Loyal Toast Avith Maoriland boast; We're Avorking for Royalty now! And so, from the murk of the coavyard, One smaH ray of comfort is lent; It may be tough Avorlc, this cowspanking lurk, But that's how N.Z: pays the rent! It isn't Trades Unions or ."Bankers The countrj'- relies upon mw; It's not eA T en full-back, five-oighth? or front roAV, Tt's ME, sitting under a coaaC"