ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Slim ‘n Me.

Slim Dusty was waitin’ on the back of a truck.
A bloody big diesel, engine runnin’ with noise,
smoke from the pipe was puffin’ out muck,
in the front cabin were two army boys.

‘e was waitin’ ‘is turn to join the parade,
the ‘Journey of a Nation’ was soon to begin,
so while we waited alone in the shade
I wondered if me chances would be much too thin.

‘e seemed to be shiftin’ about on ‘is feet
with ‘is ol’ battered ‘at set square on ‘is ‘ead.
I thought if I was just - ‘onest and fleet
I’d catch ‘im right now, cos that’s ‘ow I’m bred.

“ G’day mate ! Slim Dusty ? “ is what I did say.
‘e turned and looked down at me standin’ on tar,
smiled as ‘e paused, cos that is his way
with strangers in Sydney not known from afar.

“ Will ya sign me parade ‘at” I asked ‘im at last
‘e nodded and reached down to grasp me blue cap
with anchors upon it that ‘ave not seen oceans vast.
But ‘e wrote upon it, ‘e is a fair dinkum chap.

The cap’s made from cloth that is so very thin,
the writin’ is scrawly an’ tricky to read, but
‘e said to me “Cobber, I hope that will do”
“Just on the off-chance do you have some paper?”
I searched in a pocket of which there were few
found me a notebook then did a big caper,
passed it to ‘im, for ‘im to collate
some suitable words that might ‘glint in the sun’.

So ‘e wrote on the page - ‘ Slim Dusty, your mate’
then put underneath it - 2001.

(c). Rimeriter. 3/1/01.

G'day Jim,
I remember seeing Slim having a beer in the front bar of the Kimba pub, said g'day to him but didn't bother getting anything signed, no doubt he would have been happy to do it though!

Yes Ross, I believe you are correct.

First time we had met, but he certainly had no 'airs or graces'.
Hope you are not too young to understand the meaning of the above phrase.

I think you are located in the Alice, but where the heck is the Kimba Pub ?

Jim.

.....the Kimba pub is in Kimba of course you silly old duffer Jim!......

Kimba is a small town on the Eyre Highway, it is a wheat sheep and cattle growing area on the northern edge of the wheat belt in South Australia, it's main claim to fame is that it is 'Halfway Across Australia'......oh and they have the big galah.....no not Juliar Gillard, a staue of our famous parrot!

An interesting story. You have to be careful to avoid the appearance of forced rhyme, it starts to look comical ( unintended I presume ? ).

Thanks Ross, would've missed it on my journey in your neck of the woods. Bloody pity probably.

Sure Neville, you are correct. Entirely unintended. The day was very enjoyable, with certainly some comical aspects due to the Celebration intentions.

Jim.