Our Cow

Down by the slipralls stands our cow

  Chewing, chewing, chewing,

She does not care what folks out there

  In the great, big world are doing.

She sees the small cloud-shadows pass

  And green grass shining under.

If she does think, what does she think

  About it all, I wonder?

She sees the swallows skimming by

  Above the sweet young clover,

The light reeds swaying in the wind

  And tall trees bending over.

Far down the track she hears the crack

  of bullock-whips, and raving

Of angry men where, in the sun,

  Her fellow-beasts are slaving.

Girls, we are told, can scratch and scold,

  And boys will fight and wrangle,

And big, grown men, just now and then,

  Fret o'er some fingle-fangle,

Vexing the earth with grief or mirth,

  Longing, rejoicing, rueing -

But by the slipralls stands our cow,

  Chewing.