Poem by an Aussie: Australian identity
This poem was in the north-west Tasmanian newspaper, 'the ADVOCATE' yesterday.I hear a cry from many Aussies who are concerned with this country's identity.Anyone who has known Australia quite some time, pls tell me what you've thought about this man's cry.:(from POET'S CORNER in the ADOVOCATE) Fair dinkum, don't ya love Oz? It's bonza in so many ways, But its lingo is fast disappearing, US words are the latest OZ craze. Where's G'day, 'ello and 'ow are ya? T'day everybody says, Hi. Where've the blokes and the sheilas gone? Now, everyone is a guy. We all used to be mates and cobbers, But buddies have stolen the show, And dude is a word often bandied. Will it end? Well, I just don't know. Our patties have turned into burgers, And pancakes are flapjacks, of course. And ketchup? Oh, my Gaaard! It looks like we've killed the dead 'orse! We hear candy and crackers and cookies. It's enough to give one the shakes. Let's hang on to all of our Oz words, Like lollies and biscuits and cakes. And I see where some shops are promoting, That flippers are fins now, for sure. Jumpers are sweaters, taps are now faucets, How much of this can we endure? Do you think we'll become Septic Tanks? Will our petrol one day become gas? Hoods for our bonnets, our boots into trunks? And our wheelcaps? Alack and alas! Our animals are now known as critters. Our insects have turned into bugs. Will our footpaths one day become sidewalks, As our mats and our carpets are rugs? And when the intrepid developers, Of Aussie's pristine, virgin soil, Call it Vegas, Miami or Florida, Could a cure be a good boil in oil? And look at the US TV shows, That saturate us all to the bones, Followed by some of our own shows, That really are USA clones! And then on the wireless a while back, I slowly blanched to hear, The outback referred to as Ranchlands, Strewth mate--it's gotten worse, I fear. (Gotten, what kind a word is that?) Will changing our stations to ranches, Be the latest lost lingo fad? And having our stockmen called cowboys, I shudder, it's equally as bad. I go crook when I hear all these new words, (Though I'd never say I was mad). Cause we're losing our Aussie identity, It just makes me incredibly sad. What we need is a torch(not a flashlight), So that hopefully people can see How our Oz words are fast disappearing, What a terrible day that would be! So sheilas and blokes, speak the lingo, If ya love this Oz land so fine, Save our nation from Americanisation, And please, oh please talk strine!BY:MOLLY GREAVESSalsa@Tas!