First Child-
Hist! .......Hark! The night is very dark,
And we"ve to go a mile or so Across the Possum Park.
Step .......light, Keeping to the right;
If we delay, and lose our way, We"ll be out half the night.
The clouds are low and gloomy.Oh! It"s just begun to mist!
We haven"t any overcoats And-
Sccond Child-Hist!.......Hist!
Mopoke-Mo .......poke!
Second Child-
Who was that that spoke? This is not a fitting spot To make a silly joke.
Dear .......me ! A mopoke in a tree!
It jarred me so, I didn"t know Whatever it could be.
But come along; creep along; Soon we shall be missed.
They"ll get a scare and wonder where We-
First Child-
Hush ! .......Hist !
Ssh! .......Soft! I"ve told you oft and oft
We should not stray so far away Without a moon aloft.
Cat-Oo ! .......Scat !
First Child-
Goodness! What was that?
Upon my word, it"s quite absurd, It"s only just a cat.
But come along; haste along; Soon we"ll have to rush,Or we"ll be late, and find the gate Is-
Second Child-Hist ! .......Hush !
Frog-Kok .......Korrock !
Second Child-
Oh! I"ve had a shock!
I hope and trust it"s only just A frog behind a rock.
Shoo! .......Shoo! We"ve had enough of you;
Scaring folks just for a joke Is not the thing to do.
But come along, slip along- Isn"t it a lark
Just to roam so far from home On-
First Child-
Hist! .......Hark!
Look! .......See !
Shining through the tree,
The window-light is glowing bright To welcome you and me.
Shout! .......Shout! There"s some one round about,And through the door I see some more, And supper all laid out.
Both together-
Now, run, run, run! ....... Oh, we"ve had such splendid fun-Through the park, in the dark, As brave as anyone.
Laughed we did, and chaffed we did, And whistled all the way,And we"re home again! Home again!
Hip .......Hooray !
Arranged for verse-speaking from a poem by C. J. DennisAbout the Author.-C. J. Dennis (1876-1938) was born in South Australia and went to school there. He became a writer and wrote for newspapers in different parts of Australia. For many years before his death he lived in Toolangi, near Healesville. He wrote many stories and verses for children and for grown-ups. Now is the time to read his children"s book Roundabout; in a few years" time you will enjoy his "grown-up" books of verse- The Sentimental Bloke, Ginger Mick, and The Glugs of Gosh.
About the Poem.-Every boy and girl will know just how these two children felt. Think of some other titles for the poem. Why is "Hist!" better than any of your titles? There is a change of feeling in the poem; where does it occur?
Suggestions for Verse-speaking.-Beat time as you practise saying the poem; there are two beats to each line, even to the lines with two words. Can you walk to the rhythm? Draw a long, curving line on the schoolroom floor or on the ground; suppose that is the path through the park. Place the "mopoke", the "cat", and the "frog" along the path and let two children walk through the "park" and act the parts as they say the poem.