Bob Benson

Bob Benson is a farming man—
Ex Digger, farming man,
In summertime the skin peels on his
    nose.
For up his way, I've heard them say,
The sun is apt to tan
The farming man.
But, oh, his nobbly clothes—
His "Sundees" are the niftiest of
    clothes.

Bob came to town to see the Cup—
    To see the Melbourne Cup—
And steadily backed loosers day by day.
He wagered rash until his cash
    Was nearly all used up.
"Oh, dash the Cup!"
Said he, "I'll fade away."
But then, he thought, he'd wait for
    Poppy Day.

The streets were gay with poppies
    red—
Conspicuously red—
But Bob, morosely, passed the vendors'
    by
The charming girls-some, perfect
    pearls
Smiled soft, he shook his head.
"Stone broke" he said
While scorning each glad eye
And not a single blossom would he
    buy.

Then suddenly Bob stopped and
    stared
Most impolitely stared
A girl stood at hte corner of the 
    street
In blank amaze Bob hoped his days
might "Bloomin well be spared!" 
    Oh sunny-haired
Was she, and strangely sweet.
Bob coughed and shuffled with his
    akward feet    

"Scuse me," said he, and then
    stopped dead—
Stopped absolutely dead
And then the maiden smiled,
    oh wonderous soft
"Why, Sergeant! You—"It cant be 
    true"
That's what the maiden said.
While Bob grew red
And shuffled still, and coughed,
And stammered, as his hat he slowly
    doffed.

"Why, yes," he said at last, "it's me,
    you bet your life it's me.
Remember in sixteen- when I was 
    shot
"At Possiers you nursed me there"
"Of course, I do!" cried she.
"And your V.C.
"I thought", he said, you might have
    p'raps forgot."
She smiled, o sweeter still. "Well
    "rather not!"

Then Bob woke up. "Them flowers,"
    said he.
"Sell me the lot," said he,
"Remember what they meant to me
    and you."
And on the spot he bought the lot.
"Now come and have some tea
    Along with me.
I've things to tell you do."
"Ah well" the maiden blushed 
"Since it is you."

And why go on. You'll understand --
You'll surely understand
they sat at tea and talked for half a 
    day.
"I missed you so" - " I didn't
    know." --
Yes I've gone on the land
My prospects grand .... "
Ah well guess what we may
I know Bob Benson blesses 
    Poppy Day.