Swaggy's mate

We was mates,

you and me.

We seen some times together.

We trekked across

this ol’ place

like it would be forever.

We was mates

right from day one.

I saw yez by the road.

You mangy bastard,

you woz starved

and yer ribs they bloody showed.

Me? I was done.

I’d been alone

and nothin’ would go right.

I dropped me swag

and me hitchin’ thumb

and hunkered for the night.

Then I saw yez

standin’ there,

watchin’ as I fell.

Yer wagged yer tail,

grinned yer grin

and I reckon you could tell.

We were kin

you and me,

wantin’ nothin’ from no one;

just do our stuff

and earth our floor

and the roof above us, sun.

So I checked me bag,

took out me tucker;

reckoned it would do for two.

Yer licked yer lips,

stepped once, stepped twice

and picked up what I threw.

That night we slept,

curled in our hump,

ya pillowed me poor head.

If it weren’t for you,

my ol’ mate,

next mornin’ I woulda been dead.

The maggies warbled,

the kookas kooked,

as the sun peeped through the bush.

I picked up me swag,

ya jumped to yer feet,

and yeah, I could give it another push.

Me mate and me,

from that day,

we never lost our stride -

until today,

five years gone by,

I woke up …

and you had died.

So now again

I’m alone

and I never knew yer name.

It mattered none

‘cause when I was done

yer come and kindled me flame.

My little mate,

you knew me well.

We never said a thing.

Just understood,

within, what was good

and took what life would bring.

So now I say

goodbye me mate.

You’ve been my very best friend.

I hope one day

We’ll meet again

When it’s time for my own end.