Poem: A Quality Tradesman

 

Many years have passed,

Since the days I was a gun

But while slower, sleepier

more serious I have become

 

Hire any rouseabout

They’ll slash your lawn just fine

But the weeds in their wake

That’ll take up all your time

 

But pay the premium

For a man who’s done his Trade

A clean mower deck you’ll get

And routinely sharpened blades

 

Ah, but the weeds be here

Does that rousie know what’s done?

General Biosecur-

-ity Obligation[1]

Could he tell you the names

Of any of the WONS?[2]

Or is his spare time spent

At the end of a Bong?

 

 

 

What’s more, can he ID them?

He relies on Photo Apps

Rather than leaf; shape, size

Margin, type. Flower Perhaps?

 

Ah but the damage is done

They say a single years’ seeds

Are really quite a nuisance

They equal seven years weeds.

 

And all this, for one part of

The trade. Chainsaws, Chemicals

Pests, Diseases, and over a

Million diff’rent plant species

 

I once was a gun rousie

Til hit with med’cines stinger

But now, with much training,

I’m truly a ringer.[3]

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[1] A General Biosecurity Obligation is a landowner or contractors obligation to control biosecurity risks under the QLD Biosecurity Act 2014.

[2] “Weeds of National Significance”

[3] John Merritt, in his “Making of the AWU,” asks the reader if they are a “Rousie” (Unskilled labourer), or
Ringer (Skilled worker).