Allen, Alfred

THE “MORE PORK” BIRD

There is a wild bird in Australia resembling the English owl, the settlers call it the “More Pork,” from its peculiar cry; it is heard only at night; it frequents the most lonely scrubs.

1. “More pork! More pork!” Who has not heard
2. The low, distant cry of the “more pork” bird?
3. When the twilight has passed and the evening come
4. The Australian sprite from wattle and gum
5. Flits in the dark. Then ‘mid the oak trees
6. He answers the call which, borne on the breeze,
7. “More pork! More pork!” comes wafted along,
8. The mysterious wail of the wild bird’s song.
9. The traveller rests in his lone bush camp
10. As he lists to the bells or his horse’s tramp;
11. But the midnight watch from the old box-fork
12. Repeats his all’s well, “More pork! More pork!”
13. He plays with the shadows which move on the plains,
14. And the hills wrapt in slumber give back his refrains;
15. But before the day dawns, his voice by degrees
16. Dies away in the distance among the scrub trees;
17. Like a “win-o’-the-wisp,” he’s not to be found,
18. For his power to elude he’s become so renown’d;
19. Some say that he haunts the place of foul deeds,
20. And for just retribution to hidden guilt, pleads;
21. As an omen for evil by some he is blamed,
22. As a weatherwise prophet by all he is famed.
23. But be what he may, bird, prophet, or sprite,
24. On his mission unknown, a pilgrim by night,
25. He fulfils the high will ‘mid darkness to work,
26. And wails through the night time, “More pork!
27. More pork!”