And, O never, never niggle! Though the vulgar people giggle When they see a statesman wriggle To a place. And, I prithee, never niggle; With the man who stops to peddle, For the act upon his head'll Bring disgrace.
And we ought to take a broad, strong view.What's the matter if the prospect isn't new?There is virtue in the viewing.When it comes to merely doing,Well, it's really not important what you do.It's the view Grand view!Never let the doing part embarrass you.
When in politics you dabbleThen of course you'll have to babble,To the vote-possessing rabble 'Tis the game.When you engineer a shuffleThe ensuing party scuffleSomebody is sure to rufflAll the same.
Then be wary; do not temble;Smile politely and dissemble,Though your actions do resembleSomersaults.When your legislative symbolIs the tricky pea and thimble Your manipulations nimble Are not faults.
But, I charge you, take a strong, broad view.It is most entrancing when you have the screw.There's no need to be exactingIn the manner of your acting;'Tis the statesman's motto when dissensions brewWatch the view Wide view!And your story of the sight will see you through.
When a banquet you've to tackleWhere the ancient chestnuts crackle,And you have to rise and cackleTo your kind.Mayhap some hiccoughing freak'llRise and, venturing to speak, 'llMention you as 'Misher Deakle,Never mind.
Let your honeyed phrases trickle,And defend the Fusion pickle;Show them that you are not fickleIn the least.Say that, why we do not muzzleLabor members is a puzzle;And they'll cheer you as they guzzleAt the feast.
And bid them take a broad, strong view.Bid them see around both corners, same as you.You're the saviour of the nationAt a mayoral celebrationIf you do not harp too much upon the 'do.'Praise the view Grand view!And they vow you are a stateman strong and true.
With this popular preambleYou may then adroitly ambleTo the shocking party scramble.Voice your fears.Tell them Labor's sure to stumbleIf it does not cease to grumble;And each alderman will mumbleGlad 'Hear, hears.'
While the nuts they calmly nibbleLet vague phrases gently dribble;Give them any quip or quibble.You're immense.But, ah prithee! do not trifleWith a hint of acts; and stifleAny mention of a rifleOr defence.
For there's safety in the strong, brod view.The suppression of the hard, strong 'do'Is a matter most essentialWhen the Tory consequentialIs the man you reckon on to see you thro'.Boost the view Great view?And they'll all begin to think they see it too.
Budding statesmen, there is muckleIn the View when you've to truckleTo the crowd that will not buckleInto graft.When your policy's a muddle,And you're sailing in a puddleWith a Fusion crowd that huddle On a raft;Talk in vague, unmeaning jingle;For the crowd with which you mingleHolds within it scarce a singleOne who'll work.Here, where HANSARD's pages rustle,Three a show of rush and bustle,But there's ne'er a chance to hustle;You must shirk.Keep your eye upon the broad, strong view.Call the crowd's attention to it till you're blue.Keep them watching intently,And you can con-ven-i-entlyHate the fact that you hvae nothing much to do.Praise the view Fine view!And they may forget to keep an eye on you.
About the author
About the poet
Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis, better known as C. J. Dennis, was an Australian poet known for his humorous poems, especially "The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke", published in the early 20th century. Though Dennis's work is less well known today, his 1916 publication of The Sentimental Bloke sold 65,000 copies in its first year, and by 1917 he was the most prosperous poet in Australian history.
Together with Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson, both of whom he collaborated with, he is often considered among Australia's three most famous poets.
When he died at the age of 61, the Prime Minister of Australia Joseph Lyons suggested he was destined to be remembered as the "Australian Robert Burns".
Biography
C. J. Dennis was born in Auburn, South Australia. His father owned hotels in Auburn, and then later in Gladstone and Laura. His mother suffered ill health, so Clarrie (as he was known) was raised initially by his great-aunts, then went away to school, Christian Brothers College, Adelaide as a teenager.
At the age of 19 he was employed as a solicitor's clerk. It was while he was working in this job that, like banker's clerk Banjo Paterson before him, his first poem was published. He later went on to publish in The Bulletin.
C. J. Dennis is buried in Box Hill Cemetery, Melbourne. The Box Hill Historical Society have attached a commemorative plaque to the gravestone. Dennis is also commemorated with a plaque on Circular Quay in Sydney which forms part of the NSW Ministry for the Arts - Writers Walk series, and by a bust outside the town hall of the town of Laura.