Goint to School

C J DENNIS

It is easy to picture youngsters Billy, Kate and Robin perched high upon the back of Old Dobbin as they clip clop clip to school. This poem must have raised a familiar smile on many country people who had similar transport to school. Dave de Hugard set the poem to music and calls it ‘Three Kids On A Horse’. It is from ‘A Book for Kids’.

Did you see them pass to-day, Billy, Kate and Robin,
All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin?
Jigging, jogging off to school, down the dusty track -
What must Dobbin think of it - three upon his back?
Robin at the bridle-rein, in the middle Kate,
Billy holding on behind, his legs out straight.

Now they're coming back from school, jig, jog, jig.
See them at the corner where the gums grow big;
Dobbin flicking off the flies and blinking at the sun -
Having three upon his back he thinks is splendid fun:
Robin at the bridle-rein, in the middle Kate,
Little Billy up behind, his legs out straight.

IN THIS SECTION:

• Introduction
• Index
• Bail Up
• Hard Yakka
• The Demon Drink
• Bush Life Bush Strife
• Freedom on the Wallaby
• Horses, Dogs and Dags
• Australian Dreaming
• Land of Forests, Fleas and Flies
• The Language of the Bush
• Jack Moses
• Wilf Carter

HORSES, DOGS AND DAGS

• Introduction
• The Outlaw And The Rider
• Where The Brumbies Come..
• The Man From Snowy River
• The Geebung Polo Club
• The Goanna
• Holy Dan
• Piddling Pete
• The Dog's Meeting
• Five Miles From Gundagai
• Mad Jack's Cockatoo
• Going To School