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Title: The Mooch O' Life
Author: Clarence James Dennis [
More Titles by Dennis]
This ev'nin' I was sittin' wiv Doreen,
Peaceful an' 'appy wiv the day's work done,
Watchin', be'ind the orchard's bonzer green,
The flamin' wonder of the settin' sun.
Another day gone by; another night
Creepin' along to douse Day's golden light;
Another dawnin', when the night is gone,
To live an' love--an' so life mooches on.
Times I 'ave thought, when things was goin' crook,
When 'Ope turned nark an' Love forgot to smile,
Of somethin' I once seen in some old book
Where an ole sore-'ead arsts, "Is life worf w'ile?"
But in that stillness, as the day grows dim,
An' I am sittin' there wiv 'er an' 'im
My wife, my son! an' strength in me to strive,
I only know--it's good to be alive!
Yeh live, yeh love, yeh learn; an' when yeh come
To square the ledger in some thortful hour,
The everlastin' answer to the sum
Must allus be, "Where's sense in gittin' sour?"
Fer when yeh've come to weigh the good an' bad--
The gladness wiv the sadness you 'ave 'ad--
Then 'im 'oo's faith in 'uman goodness fails
Fergits to put 'is liver in the scales.
Livin' an' lovin'; learnin' day be day;
Pausin' a minute in the barmy strife
To find that 'elpin' others on the way
Is gold coined fer your profit--sich is life.
I've studied books wiv yearnings to improve,
To 'eave meself out of me lowly groove,
An' 'ere is orl the change I ever got:
"'Ark at yer 'eart, an' you kin learn the lot."
I gives it in--that wisdom o' the mind--
I wasn't built to play no lofty part.
Orl such is welkim to the joys they find;
I only know the wisdom o' the 'eart.
An' ever it 'as taught me, day be day,
The one same lesson in the same ole way:
"Look fer yer profits in the 'earts o' friends,
Fer 'atin' never paid no dividends."
Life's wot yeh make it; an' the bloke 'oo tries
To grab the shinin' stars frum out the skies
Goes crook on life, an' calls the world a cheat,
An' tramples on the daisies at 'is feet.
But when the moon comes creepin' o'er the hill,
An' when the mopoke calls along the creek,
I takes me cup o' joy an' drinks me fill,
An' arsts meself wot better could I seek.
An' ev'ry song I 'ear the thrushes sing
That everlastin' message seems to bring;
An' ev'ry wind that whispers in the trees
Gives me the tip there ain't no joys like these:
Livin' an' lovin'; wand'rin' on yer way;
Reapin' the 'arvest of a kind deed done;
An' watchin', in the sundown of yer day,
Yerself again, grown nobler in yer son.
Knowin' that ev'ry coin o' kindness spent
Bears interest in yer 'eart at cent per cent;
Measurin' wisdom by the peace it brings
To simple minds that values simple things.
An' when I take a look along the way
That I 'ave trod, it seems the man knows best,
Who's met wiv slabs of sorrer in 'is day,
When 'e is truly rich an' truly blest.
An' I am rich, becos me eyes 'ave seen
The lovelight in the eyes of my Doreen;
An' I am blest, becos me feet 'ave trod
A land 'oo's fields reflect the smile o' God.
Livin' an' lovin'; learnin' to fergive
The deeds an' words of some un'appy bloke
Who's missed the bus--so 'ave I come to live,
An' take the 'ole mad world as 'arf a joke.
Sittin' at ev'nin' in this sunset-land,
Wiv 'Er in all the World to 'old me 'and,
A son, to bear me name when I am gone....
Livin' an' lovin'--so life mooches on.
The Glossary
A.I.F.--Australian Imperial Force.
Alley, to toss in the--To give up the ghost.
Also ran, the--On the turf, horses that fail to secure a leading place; hence, obscure persons, nonentities.
'Ammer-lock (Hammer-lock)--A favourite and effective hold in wrestling.
Ar--An exclamation expressing joy, sorrow, surprise, etc., according to the manner of utterance.
'Ard Case (Hard Case)--A shrewd or humorous person.
'Ayseed (Hayseed)--A rustic.
Back Chat--Impudent repartee.
Back and Fill--To vacillate; to shuffle.
Back the Barrer--To intervene without invitation.
Barmy (Balmy)--Foolish; silly.
Beak--A magistrate. (Possibly from Anglo-Saxon, Beag--a magistrate.)
Beano--A feast.
Beans--Coins; money.
Beat--Puzzled; defeated.
Beat, off the---Out of the usual routine.
Beef (to beef it out)--To declaim vociferously.
Bellers (Bellows)--The lungs.
Biff--To smite.
Bird, to give the--To treat with derision.
Blighter--A worthless fellow.
Bli'me--An oath with the fangs drawn.
Blither--To talk at random, foolishly.
Blob--A shapeless mass.
Block--The head.
To lose or do in the block--To become flustered; excited; angry; to lose confidence.
To keep the block--To remain calm; dispassionate.
Block, the--A fashionable city walk.
Bloke--A male adult of the genus homo.
Blubber, blub--To weep.
Bluff--Cunning practice; make believe. v. To deceive; to mislead.
Bob--A shilling.
Bokays--Compliments, flattery.
Boko--The nose.
Bong-tong--Patrician (Fr. Bon ton).
Bonzer, boshter, bosker--Adjectives expressing the superlative of excellence.
Boodle--Money; wealth.
Book--A bookie, q.v.
Bookie--A book-maker (turf); one who makes a betting book on sporting events.
Boot, to put in the--To kick a prostrate foe.
Boss--Master, employer.
Break (to break away, to do a break)--To depart in haste.
Breast up to--To accost.
Brisket--The chest.
Brown--A copper coin.
Brums--Tawdry finery (From Brummagem--Birmingham).
Buckley's (Chance)--A forlorn hope.
Buck-up--Cheer up.
Bump--To meet; to accost aggressively.
Bun, to take the--To take the prize (used ironically).
Bundle, to drop the--To surrender; to give up hope.
Bunk--To sleep in a "bunk" or rough bed.
To do a bunk--To depart. Bunnies, to hawk the--To peddle rabbits.
Bus, to miss the--To neglect opportunities.
Caboose--A small dwelling.
Carlton--A Melbourne Football Team.
Cat, to whip the--To cry over spilt milk; i.e. to whip the cat that has spilt the milk.
C.B.--Confined to barracks.
Cert--A certainty; a foregone conclusion.
Champeen--Champion.
Chase yourself--Depart; avaunt; "fade away," q.v.
Chat--To address tentatively; to "word" q.v.
Cheque, to pass in one's--To depart this life.
Chest, to get it off one's--To deliver a speech; express one's feelings.
Chew, to chew it over; to chew the rag--To sulk; to nurse a grievance.
Chiack--Vulgar banter; coarse invective.
Chin--To talk; to wag the chin.
Chip--To "chat," q.v.
Chip in--To intervene.
Chiv--The face.
Chow--A native of far Cathay.
Chuck up--To relinquish.
Chuck off--To chaff; to employ sarcasm.
Chump--A foolish fellow.
Chunk--A lump; a mass.
Clean--Completely; utterly.
Click--A clique; a "push," q.v.
Cliner--A young unmarried female.
Clobber--Raiment; vesture.
Cobber--A boon companion.
Collect--To receive one's deserts.
Colour-line--In pugilism, the line drawn by white boxers excluding coloured fighters--for divers reasons.
Conk--The nose.
Coot--A person of no account (used contemptuously).
Cop--To seize; to secure; also s. An avocation, a "job."
Cop (or Copper)--A police constable.
Copper-top--Red head.
Copper show--A copper mine.
Count, to take the--In pugilism, to remain prostrate for ten counted seconds, and thus lose the fight.
Cove--A "chap" or "bloke," q.v. (Gipsy).
Cow--A thoroughly unworthy, not to say despicable, person, place, thing, or circumstance.
A fair cow--An utterly obnoxious and otherwise unexpressible person, place, thing, or circumstance.
Crack--To smite. s. A blow.
Crack a boo--To divulge a secret; to betray emotion.
Crack hardy--To suppress emotion; to endure patiently; to keep a secret.
Cray--A crayfish.
Crib--A dwelling.
Croak--To die.
Crook--A dishonest or evil person.
Crook--Unwell; dishonest; spurious; fraudulent. Superlative, Dead Crook.
Crool (cruel) the pitch--To frustrate; to interfere with one's schemes or welfare.
Crust--Sustenance; a livelihood:
Cut it out--Omit it; discontinue it.
Dago--A native of Southern Europe.
Dash, to do-one's--To reach one's Waterloo.
Date--An appointment.
Dawg (dog)--A contemptible person; ostentation.
To put on dawg--To behave in an arrogant manner.
Dead--In a superlative degree; very.
Deal--To deal it out; to administer punishment, abuse, etc.
Deener--A shilling (Fr. Denier. Denarius, a Roman silver coin).
Derry--An aversion; a feud; a dislike.
Dickin--A term signifying disgust or disbelief.
Dile (dial)--The face.
Dilly--Foolish; half-witted.
Ding Dong--Strenuous.
Dinkum--Honest; true. "The Dinkum Oil."--The truth.
Dirt--Opprobrium, a mean speech or action.
Dirty left--A formidable left fist.
Divvies--Dividends; profits.
Dizzy limit--The utmost; the superlative degree.
Do in--To defeat; to kill; to spend.
Done me luck--Lost my good fortune.
Dope--A drug; adulterated liquor. v. To administer drugs.
Dot in the eye, to--To strike in the eye.
Douse--To extinguish (Anglo-Saxon).
Drive a quill--To write with a pen; to work in an office.
Duck, to do a--See "break."
Duds--Personal apparel (Scotch).
Dunno--Do not know.
Dutch--German; any native of Central Europe.
'Eads (Heads)--The authorities; inner council.
'Eadin'--"Heading browns"; tossing pennies.
'Ead over Turkey--Head over heels.
'Ead Serang--The chief; the leader.
'Eavyweight--A boxer of the heaviest class.
'Ell--fer-leather--In extreme haste.
End up, to get--To rise to one's feet.
Fade away, to--To retire; to withdraw.
Fag--A cigarette.
Fair--Extreme; positive.
Fair thing--A wise proceeding; an obvious duty.
Fake--A swindle; a hoax.
Finger--An eccentric or amusing person.
Flam--Nonsense; make--believe.
Flash--Ostentatious; showy but counterfeit.
Float, to--To give up the ghost.
Fluff, a bit of--A young female person.
Foot (me foot)--A term expressing ridicule.
Footer--Football.
Frame--The body.
Frill--Affectation.
Funk, to--To fear; to lose courage.
Furphy--An idle rumour; a canard.
Galoot--A simpleton.
Game--Occupation; scheme; design.
Gawsave--The National Anthem.
Gazob--A fool; a blunderer.
Geewhizz--Exclamation expressing surprise.
Get, to do a--To retreat hastily.
Gilt--Money; wealth.
Give, to--In one sense, to care.
Gizzard--The heart.
Glassey--The glassy eye; a glance of cold disdain.
The Glassey Alley--The favourite; the most admired.
Glim--A light.
Going (while the going is good)--While the path is clear.
Gone (fair gone)--Overcome, as with emotion.
Goo-goo eyes--Loving glances.
Gorspil-cove--A minister of the Gospel.
Graft--Work.
Grafter--One who toils hard or willingly.
Griffin, the straight--The truth, secret information.
Grip--Occupation; employment.
Groggy--Unsteady; dazed.
Grouch--To mope; to grumble.
Grub--Food.
Guff--Nonsense.
Guy--A foolish fellow.
Guy, to do a--To retire.
Guyver--Make-believe.
Hankies--A fondling of hands between lovers.
Hang out--To reside; to last.
Hang-over--The aftermath of the night before.
Hankies--Handkerchiefs.
High-falutin'--High sounding; boastful.
Hitch, to--To wed.
Hitched--Entangled in the bonds of holy matrimony.
Hit things up--To behave strenuously; riotously.
Hot--Excessive, extreme.
Hump, the--A fit of depression.
Hump, to--To carry as a swag or other burden.
Imshee--Begone; retreat; to take yourself off. [Arabic]
Intro--Introduction; "knock--down," q.v.
It (to be It)--To assume a position of supreme importance.
Jab--To strike smartly.
Jane--A woman.
Jiff--A very brief period.
Job, to--To smite.
Joes--Melancholy thoughts.
John--A policeman.
Joint, to jump the--To assume command; to occupy the "joint," i.e., establishment, situation, place of business.
Jolt, to pass a--To deliver a short, sharp blow.
Jor--The jaw.
Jorb (Job)--Avocation; employment.
Josser--A simple fellow.
Jug--A prison.
Keekin'--Peeping.
Keeps, for--For ever; permanently.
Kersplosh--Splash.
Kid--A child.
Kid, to--To deceive; to persuade by flattery.
Kiddies--Children.
Kid Stakes--Pretence.
King Pin--The leader; the person of chief importance.
Kip--A small chip used for tossing pennies in the occult game of two--up.
Kipsie--A house; the home.
Knob--The head; one in authority.
Knock-down--A ceremony insisted upon by ladies who decline to be "picked up"; a formal introduction.
Knock-out drops--Drugged or impure liquor.
Knock-out punch--A knock--down blow.
Knot--A fop; a well--dressed idler.
Lark--A practical joke; a sportive jest.
Lash--Violence.
Ledding--Leaden.
Leery--Vulgar; low.
Leeuwin--Cape Leeuwin on the south-west coast of Australia.
Lid--The hat.
To dip the lid--To raise the hat.
Limit--The end; the full length.
Line up--To approach; to accost.
Lingo--Language.
Lip--Impertinence. To give it lip--To talk vociferously.
Little Bourke--Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Australia.
Little Lon.--Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Australia.
Lob, to--To arrive.
'Loo--Woolloomooloo, a part of Sydney.
Lumme--Love me.
Lurk--A plan of action; a regular occupation.
Mafeesh--Finish; I am finished. [Arabic "there is no.."]
Mag--To scold or talk noisily.
Mallee--A species of Eucalypt; the country where the Mallee grows.
Mash--To woo; to pay court. s. A lover.
Maul--To lay hands upon, either violently or with affection.
Meet, a--An assignation.
Mill--A bout of fisticuffs.
Mix--To mix it; to fight strenuously.
Mizzle--To disappear; to depart suddenly.
Mo--An abbreviation of "moment."
Moll--A woman of loose character.
Moniker--A name; a title; a signature.
Mooch--To saunter about aimlessly.
Moon--To loiter.
Mud, my name is--i.e., I am utterly discredited.
Mug--A fool; also the mouth.
Mug, to--To kiss.
Mullock, to poke--To deride; to tease.
Mushy--Sentimental.
Nark--s. A spoil--sport; a churlish fellow.
Nark, to--To annoy; to foil.
Narked--Angered; foiled.
Natchril--Natural
Neck, to get it in the--To receive severe punishment;
i.e., "Where the chicken got the axe."
Nerve--Confidence; impudence.
Nick--Physical condition; good health.
Nipper--A small boy.
Nose around, to--To seek out inquisitively.
Nothing (ironically)--Literally "something considerable."
Odds, above the--Beyond the average; outside the pale.
Oopizootics--An undiagnosed complaint.
Orfis (office)--A warning; a word of advice; a hint.
Oricle (oracle), to work the--To secure desired results.
Orl (all in)--Without limit or restriction.
'Ot socks--Gaily--coloured hose.
Out, to--To render unconscious with a blow.
Out, all--Quite exhausted; fully extended.
Pack, to send to the--To relegate to obscurity.
Pal--A friend; a mate (Gipsy).
Pard--A partner; a mate.
Pass (pass 'im one)--To deliver a blow.
Pat [Malone] on one's--Alone; single-handed.
Peach--A desirable young woman; "fresh as a peach."
Peb (pebble)--A flash fellow; a "larrikin."
Phiz--The face.
Pick at--To chaff; to annoy
Pick--up, to--To dispense with the ceremony of a "knock--down" or introduction.
Pile it on--To rant; to exaggerate.
Pilot Cove--A clergyman.
Pinch--To steal; to place under arrest.
Pip--A fit of depression.
Pitch a tale--To trump up an excuse; to weave a romance.
Plant--To bury.
Plug--To smite with the fist.
Plug along, to--To proceed doggedly.
Plunk--An exclamation expressing the impact of a blow.
Point, to--To seize unfair advantage; to scheme.
Podgy--Fat; plump.
Point--The region of the jaw; much sought after by pugilists.
Pot, the old--The male parent (from "Rhyming Slang,") the "old pot and pan"--the "old man."
Pot, a--A considerable amount; as a "pot of money."
Pole, up the--Distraught through anger, fear, etc.; also, disappeared, vanished.
Prad--A horse.
Pug--A pugilist.
Pull, to take a--To desist; to discontinue.
Punch a cow--To conduct a team of oxen.
Punter--The natural prey of a "bookie," q.v.
Push--A company of rowdy fellows gathered together for ungentle purposes.
Queer the pitch--To frustrate; to fool.
Quid--A sovereign, or pound sterling.
Quod--Prison.
Rabbit, to run the--To convey liquor from a public-house.
Rag, to chew the--To grieve; to brood.
Rag, to sky the--To throw a towel into the air in token of surrender (pugilism).
Rain, to keep out of the--To avoid danger; to act with caution.
Rat--A street urchin; a wharf loafer.
Rattled--Excited; confused.
Red lot--Extreme; out--and--out.
Registry--The office of a Registrar.
Ribuck----Correct, genuine; an interjection signifying assent.
Rile--To annoy. Riled--Roused to anger.
Ring, the--The arena of a prize-fight.
Ring, the dead--A remarkable likeness.
Rise, a--An accession of fortune; an improvement.
Rocks--A locality in Sydney.
Rorty--Boisterous; rowdy.
Roust, or Rouse--To upbraid with many words.
'Roy--Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne; its football team.
Run against--To meet more or less unexpectedly.
Saints--A football team of St Kilda, Victoria.
Sandy blight--Ophthalmia.
Savvy--Common-sense; shrewdness.
School--A club; a clique of gamblers, or others.
Scran--Food.
Scrap--Fight.
Set, to--To attack; to regard with disfavour.
Set, to have--To have marked down for punishment or revenge.
Shick, shickered--Intoxicated.
Shicker--Intoxicating liquor.
Shinty--A game resembling hockey.
Shook--Stolen; disturbed.
Shook on--Infatuated.
Shyin' or Shine--Excellent; desirable.
Sight--To tolerate; to permit; also to see; observe.
Sir Garneo--In perfect order; satisfactory.
Skirt or bit of skirt--A female.
Skite--To boast.
Skiter--A boaster.
Sky the wipe--See "rag."
Slab--A portion; a tall, awkward fellow.
Slanter--Spurious; unfair.
Slap-up--Admirable; excellent.
Slats--The ribs.
Slaver--One engaged in the "white slave traffic."
Slick--Smart; deft; quick.
Slope, to--To elope; to leave in haste.
Sloppy--Lachrymose; maudlin.
Slushy--A toiler in a scullery.
Smooge--To flatter or fawn; to bill and coo.
Smooger--A sycophant; a courtier.
Snag--A hindrance; formidable opponent.
Snake-'eaded--Annoyed, vindictive.
Snake juice--Strong drink.
Snare--To acquire; to seize; to win.
Snide--Inferior; of no account.
Snob--A bootmaker.
Snout--To bear a grudge.
Snouted--Treated with disfavour.
Snuff or snuff it--To expire.
Sock it into--To administer physical punishment.
Solid--Severe; severely.
So-long--A form of farewell.
Sool--To attack; to urge on.
Soot, leadin'--A chief attribute.
Sore, to get--To become aggrieved.
Sore-head--A curmudgeon.
Sour, to turn, or get--To become pessimistic or discontented.
Spank--To chastise maternal-wise.
Spar--A gentle bout of fisticuffs.
Spare me days--A pious ejaculation.
Specs--Spectacles.
Splash--To expend.
Splice--To join in holy matrimony.
Spout--To preach or speak at length.
Sprag--To accost truculently.
Spruik--To deliver a speech, as a showman.
Square--Upright, honest.
Square an' all--Of a truth; verily.
Squiz--A brief glance.
Stand-orf--Retiring; reticent.
Stajum--Stadium, where prize-fights are conducted. S
tiffened--Bought over.
Stiff-un--A corpse.
Stoke--To nourish; to eat.
Stop a pot--To quaff ale.
Stoush--To punch with the fist. s. Violence.
Straight, on the--In fair and honest fashion.
Strangle-hold--An ungentle embrace in wrestling.
Strength of it--The truth of it; the value of it.
Stretch, to do a--To serve a term of imprisonment.
Strike--The innocuous remnant of a hardy curse.
Strike--To discover; to meet.
Strong, going--Proceeding with vigour.
'Struth--An emaciated oath.
Stuff--Money.
Stunt--A performance; a tale.
Swad, Swaddy--A private soldier.
Swank--Affectation; ostentation.
Swap--To exchange.
Swell--An exalted person.
Swig--A draught of water or other liquid.
Tabbie--A female.
Take 'em on--Engage them in battle.
Take it out--To undergo imprisonment in lieu of a fine.
Tart--A young woman (contraction of sweetheart).
Tenner--A ten-pound note.
Time, to do--To serve a term in prison.
Time, to have no time for--To regard with impatient disfavour.
Tip--To forecast; to give; to warn.
Tip--A warning; a prognostication; a hint.
Tipple--Strong drink; to indulge in strong drink.
Toff--An exalted persogn.
Togs--Clothes.
Togged--Garbed.
Tom--A girl.
Tony--Stylish.
Took--Arrested; apprehended.
Top, off one's--Out of one's mind.
Top off, to--To knock down; to assault.
Toss in the towel--See "rag."
Touch--Manner; mode; fashion.
Tough--Unfortunate; hardy; also a "tug," q.v.
Tough luck--Misfortune.
Track with--To woo; to "go walking with."
Treat, a--Excessively; abundantly.
Tucked away--Interred.
Tug--An uncouth fellow; a hardy rogue.
Tumble to, or to take a tumble--To comprehend suddenly.
Turkey, head over--Head over heels.
Turn down--To reject; dismiss.
Turn, out of one's--Impertinently; uninvited.
Twig--To observe; to espy.
Two-up School--A gambling den.
Umpty--An indefinite numeral.
Upper--cut--In pugilism, an upward blow.
Uppish--Proud.
Up to us--Our turn; our duty.
Vag, on the--Under the provisions of the Vagrancy Act.
Wallop--To beat; chastise.
Waster--A reprobate; an utterly useless and unworthy person.
Waterworks, to turn on the--To shed tears.
Welt--A blow.
Wet, to get--To become incensed; ill-tempered.
Whips--Abundance.
White (white man)--A true, sterling fellow.
White-headed boy--A favourite; a pet.
Willin'--Strenuous; hearty.
Win, a--Success.
Wise, to get--To comprehend; to unmask deceit.
Wolf--To eat.
Word--To accost with fair speech.
Wot price--Behold; how now!
Yakker--Hard toil.
Yap--To talk volubly.
Yowling--Wailing; caterwauling.
[The end]
Clarence James Dennis's poem: Mooch O' Life
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