The Eternal Optimist Poem by keith brown

True blue can you stand the load
Will you tie it up with wire
Just to keep the show on the road
(John Williamson)


The eternal optimist

The old Dolly he was certain had seen better days
She's been bent, hit and welded In so many different ways.
His old mate too a look, then with a Wiley grin,
"Don't worry she'll be right mate, we'll fix it, then we can hit the road again."


"Don't worry, she'll be right mate, we'll just using bailing wire, wind it round the shaft and fix it to the tyre"
"Don't worry, She'll be right mate, but don't do it over tight.
We've fixed the bloody thing and we can hit the road tonight"

Now the Dolly's looking good for another 10 ton load
Don't Worry she'll be right mate, let's just hit the road

They rumbled out of Isa to hit the out back track
But the Dolly's tied with wire
She ain't never coming back

The rain started falling, the creek was flooding fast
Hope that bailing wire still holds the bloody shaft!
"Don't worry she'll be right mate, we can tighten up the wire
The waters still rising, but it shouldn't get much higher."

The creeks looking good too cross won't float a ten ton load
Don't worry she'll be right mate let's just hit the road

They rumbled through the creek along that outback track
But the dollys tied with wire
She ain't never coming back

Now the old cabs taking water and their feet are getting wet.
Still, his old mates not convinced that their in trouble yet.
"Just grab that old lunch bucket and bail out the load"
Don't worry she'll be right mate, let's just hit the road"

They bailed like the devil out on that outback track
But the Dollys tied with wire
She ain't never coming back

Now their standing on the roof, the waters racing past
Still his old mates not convinced this day maybe his last
The Dollys broken loose, amidst a raft a floating tyre
"Don't worry she'll be right mate, if I can find some bailing wire"

Now their floating down the creek along that outback track
But the Dollys broke the wire
She ain't never coming back

"Don't worry she'll be right mate, just grab a tyre as it goes by,
I'm pretty bloody certain it ain't my time to die"
His final words uttered as he rode that old truck tyre
"Don't worry, she'll be right mate".
I've just found more bailing wire!