[Editor: This poem, by “Fagan”, written for the New Year, was published in the North-Eastern Courier (Moora, WA), 26 December 1924. It was written in the Australian vernacular.]
Happy New Year
Kin yer spare me thirty seconds, kin yer gimme arf a mo
Will yer wait while I whisper something to yer
I only wants ter wish yer from me ’art it’s dinky di
A very very bright an’ ’appy New Year
Strike me pink we’ve ’ad our troubles in ther year that’s just gone by
An’ at times our luck’s bin anythin but too near
But still we’ve worried through an’ to me cobbers everywhere
I wish a very bright an’ ’Appy New Year
If ye’ve ’ad er decent crop an’ lifted six or seven bags
An’ the price is right well things aint any too drear
But them poor cows who had a failure,
Now then blokes it’s up ter you —
Help ’em on — then wish ’em all a Appy New Year
An’ may the year that’s comin’ bring us blessins in galore
Although the track we grow aint too clear
We can make the goin’ easy if we only act the man
So I wish you all a bright an’ ’Appy New Year
— “Fagan.”
Source:
North-Eastern Courier (Moora, WA), 26 December 1924, p. 3
Editor’s notes:
’ad = (vernacular) had
aint = (vernacular) are not (“ain’t” can be a contraction of: am not; are not, aren’t; has not, hasn’t; have not, haven’t; is not, isn’t) [re “things aint any too drear”]
aint = (vernacular) is not, isn’t (“ain’t” can be a contraction of: am not; are not, aren’t; has not, hasn’t; have not, haven’t; is not, isn’t) [re “Although the track we grow aint too clear”]
an’ = (vernacular) and
anythin = (vernacular) anything (also rendered as: anythin’)
appy = (vernacular) happy
’appy = (vernacular) happy
arf = (vernacular) half
arf a mo = half a moment (a brief period, a short time, a jiffy)
’art = (vernacular) heart
bin = (vernacular) been
bloke = man, chap, fellow
cobber = friend, mate
comin’ = (vernacular) coming
cow = in historical Australian slang, a disrespectful term for someone (usually regarding men), or a negative or sorrowful term for someone (usually regarding men) who is undergoing a hard time (e.g. “them poor cows”); in modern slang, a reference to a disliked woman, especially one who is regarded as annoying, fat, lazy, nasty, stupid, or unpleasant; something which is unpleasant or objectionable (such as used in the phrase “a fair cow”); can also refer to: a large female adult mammal (regarding cattle especially, but also including others, e.g. elephants, seals, whales)
dinky di = (also spelt: dinky-di) (derived from dinkum, fair dinkum) genuine, authentic, true; authentically Australian; a real Australian, a true blue Australian; honest, on the level; steadfastly loyal, true blue
’em = (vernacular) a contraction of “them”
er = (vernacular) a
gimme = (vernacular) give me
goin’ = (vernacular) going
it’s = a contraction of “it is” (“it’s” can also be a contraction of “it has”)
kin = (vernacular) can
me = (vernacular) my
mo = (vernacular) moment
strike me pink = an exclamatory phrase, used to express astonishment, shock, or surprise
ter = (vernacular) to
ther = (vernacular) the
we’ve = a contraction of “we have”
worried = continued on, managed, proceeded in a course of action, or struggled on, despite difficulties, impediments, and/or trials
yer = (vernacular) you
ye’ve = (archaic) a contraction of “ye have”; rendered in modern times as “you’ve” (a contraction of “you have”)
[Editor: Changed “kin yet gimme” to “kin yer gimme”.]
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