1921 [poem, 1 January 1921]

[Editor: This poem was published in the “Sun Rays of the Week” column, in The Newcastle Sun (Newcastle, NSW), 1 January 1921.]

1921

We turn another leaf today,
Page 1921;
What will be written, who can say,
In 1921?
For many changes there will be
In home and town, in you and me,
We hope for times of joy and glee
In 1921.

Our city’s got a new Lord Mayor,
For 1921.
So let time-wasters all beware,
In 1921.
May this new year bring joy and peace,
May quarrels, fights and bickering cease,
And business aptitude increase,
In 1921.

The King-street scheme is put to bed,
For 1921;
The doctors gave it up for dead,
In 1921;
The Council thought the scheme too thin,
And as the author could not win,
He’s gone and thrown his marble in,
For 1921.

Our so-called trams will run by steam
In 1921;
No matter how the public scream,
In 1921;
And though our folks did what they could,
To Sydney went, through storm and flood,
The Gov’ment’s name is simply “mud,”
In 1921.

The Steel Works water will come down,
In 1921,
From sandbeds north of Stockton town,
In 1921.
Unless the Water Board oppose
What men of common-sense propose,
With luck, we’ll maybe use the hose,
In 1921.

Our city’s sure to go ahead,
In 1921;
We’ll let them see that we’re not dead,
In 1921;
And if the “Greater” Bill goes through,
Which should occur, ’twixt me and you,
We’ll show the world what we can do,
In 1921.

Source:
The Newcastle Sun (Newcastle, NSW), 1 January 1921, p. 4

Editor’s notes:
This poem was written regarding various local issues affecting Newcastle (NSW).

gov’ment = (vernacular) government

’twixt = (vernacular) a contraction of “betwixt” (i.e. between) (may be spelt with or without an apostrophe)