A Crackerjack Party
Near Trickle Falls where gums grow tall
And lacy tree ferns grow
A cheerful chap, Wally Wombat
Met Crackerjack the crow.
‘Come in. Come in’ he beckoned his friend
‘Please won’t you stay for tea’
Crackerjack just tipped his cap
And accepted graciously.
There they sat, they had a chat
And sipped their billy brew
And as the sun was going down
The evening shadows grew,
The crow he sighed I’m not yet tired
Let’s throw a fancy ball
With silverware and fancy fare
And fancy dress and all
‘A splendid thought, I think we ought”
Said Wally in a flash
‘My costume’s grand, best in the land
I’m sure to make a splash’
They chose a place, they cleared some space
The animals soon arrived
In costumes they’d had ready made
Or simply had contrived
The bilby was a bumble bee
The possum was Tarzan
A numbat was a birthday cake
Wrapped in marzipan
The blue tongue skink was draped in pink
Red kangaroo in blue
Exactly what the dingo was
No one really knew
Crackerjack, with coat and hat
Was dressed as the Mad Hatter
The wombat offered fairy bread
Served on a silver platter
Wally stood out, walking about
In the costume that he wore
With a toothy grin and tiny limbs
A T-rex dinosaur
The big bush band took to the stand
And rocked out loud and strong
The bowerbirds knew ever word
And they just sang along
It was an awesome do, the animals knew
And some were heard to say
Without a doubt the best night out
Since the Bush Week Jamboree
They sang and danced and laughed and pranced
Until the night was through
And in the morn they all went home
Through mist and morning dew
‘Well that was fun, now that it’s done’
Wally whispered to his friend
Let’s invite them back, dear Crackerjack
And we’ll do it all again’
© Allan Cropper
January 2015
