Doggerel Dave

The Year Was 1955

New to North Queensland from London we came.

Immigrants we were but what’s in a name?

We ‘Poms’ advised to mind the wildlife;

Told some are ferocious, can lead to strife.

                     ***

There were some nasties we encountered there,

But fleas the ones almost too much to bear;

In London fleas were the cause of much shame -

Mum swore us to secrecy; we were to blame.

                     ***

Happens one day with washing on the line

Mum chats with the neighbor as weather’s fine.

Neighbor makes comment in passing so small:

(Mum still troubled by the disgrace of it all),

“Those bloody fleas are hav’in a ball!”