Bowyang's Bridge

Meself an’ ole Bill Smith this week,
We fell a gum tree ’cross the creek;
An ole man Bluegum, straight an’ tall,
That shook Gunn’s Gully with his fall.
We adzed ’er off all nice an’ neat —
A real, fine engineerin’ feat,
An’ fixed, for them as such require,
A hand-rail made of fencing wire.

Gunn’s Gully’s turnin’ out today
To see me open ’er. An’ say —
   She is some bridge! An’ don’t forget
   She ain’t one penny piece in debt.
We tested ’er with Bill Smith’s cow,
An’ there she looms in beauty now,
Spannin’ the creek, a monument
To proud Gunn’s Gully’s high content.

I ’eard from some bloke — dunno who —
They’re openin’ one in Sydney, too;
   Some says a bigger one than this.
   Aw well! two bridges ain’t amiss,
An’ if they get as much real joy
As me an’ Bill from our new toy —
   Good luck to them! The years will tell
   If us an’ them have built it well.