Been There Before
Been There Before - meaning Summary
Outsider's Quiet Trick
A stranger arrives in the outback town of Walgett and, mocked by locals, accepts a wager to throw a stone across the Darling River. When no stones are found, he surprises everyone by producing one from his pocket and sending it over the water, implying prior knowledge of the place. The poem lightly sketches themes of cunning, outsider status, local confidence and the small triumph of preparation over bravado in a rural setting.
Read Complete AnalysesThere came a stranger to Walgett town, To Walgett town when the sun was low, And he carried a thirst that was worth a crown, Yet how to quench it he did not know; But he thought he might take those yokels down, The guileless yokels of Walgett town. They made him a bet in a private bar, In a private bar when the talk was high, And they bet him some pounds no matter how far He could pelt a stone, yet he could not shy A stone right over the river so brown, The Darling River at Walgett town. He knew that the river from bank to bank Was fifty yards, and he smiled a smile As he trundled down; but his hopes they sank, For there wasn’t a stone within fifty mile; For the saltbush plain and the open down Produce no quarries in Walgett town. The yokels laughed at his hopes o’erthrown, And he stood awhile like a man in a dream; Then out of his pocket he fetched a stone, And pelted it over the silent stream – He’d been there before; he had wandered down On a previous visit to Walgett town.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.