“JONG”
(Lines suggested by an Australian aboriginal place-name commonly known by its last syllable.)
Fine names are found upon the map—
Kanturk and Chirk and Cong,
Grogtown and Giggleswick and Shap,
Chowbent and Chittagong;
But other places, less renowned,
In richer euphony abound
Than the familiar throng;
For instance, there is Beeyah-byyah-bunniga-nelliga-jong.
In childhood’s days I took delight
In Lear’s immortal Dong,
Whose nose was luminously bright,
Who sang a silvery song.
He did not terrify the birds
With strange and unpropitious words
Of double-edged ontong;
I’m sure he hailed from Beeyah-byyah-bunniga-nelliga-jong.
Prince Giglio’s bag, the fairy’s gift,
Helped him to right the wrong,
Encouraged diligence and thrift,
And “opened with a pong”;
But though its magic powers were great
It could not quite ejaculate
A word so proud and strong
And beautiful as Beeyah-byyah-bunniga-nelliga-jong.
I crave no marble pleasure-dome,
No forks with golden prong;
Like Horace, in a frugal home
I’d gladly rub along,
Contented with the humblest cot
Or shack or hut, if it had got
A name like Billabong,
Or, better still, like Beeyah-byyah-bunniga-nelliga-jong.
Sweet is the music of the spheres,
Majestic is Mong Blong,
And bland the beverage that cheers,
Called Sirupy Souchong;
But sweeter, more inspiring far
Than tea or peak or tuneful star
I deem it to belong
To such a place as Beeyah-byyah-bunniga-nelliga-jong.
BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD, ENGLAND