Read "Collected Poetry" by Andrew Barton Paterson online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The shades of night had fallen at last, When through the house a shadow passed, That once had been the Genial Dan, But now become a desperate man, At question time he waited near, And on the Premier's startled ear A voice fell like half a brick "Did ye, or did ye not, pay Crick Did ye?"
By land and sea the Premier sped, But found his foe where'er he fled, The sailors swore--with whitened lip-- That Neptune swam behind the ship: When to the stern the Premier ran, Behold, 'twas no one else but Dan, And through the roaring of the gale That clarion voice took up the tale, "Ahoy there! Answer, straight and slick! Did not the Ministry pay Crick Did they?"