
A cockatoo in a dead tree
The 12 Days of Xmas (a rural point of view)
On the first day of Xmas, my dry land gave to me
A cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the second day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
Two mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 3rd day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
Three angry brown snakes,
two mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 4th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
Four hungry roos,
three angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 5th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
Five dry creek beds,
Four hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo on a dead tree.
On the 6th day of Xmas, my dry land gave to me
6 bores a-spluttering,
five dry creek beds,
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 7th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
7 pumps a-struggling,
6 bores a-spluttering, 5 dry creek beds,
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 8th day of Xmas, my dry land gave to me
8 mills a-creaking,
7 pumps a-struggling, 6 bores a –spluttering,
5 dry creek beds,
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 9th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
9 parrots squawking,
8 mills a-creaking, 7 pumps a-struggling, 6 bores a-spluttering,
5 dry creek beds,
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 10th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
10 ants a-swarming,
9 parrots squawking, 8 mills a –creaking, 7 pumps a-struggling, 6 bores a-spluttering
5 dry creek beds
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 11th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
11 mls a-raining
10 ants a-swarming, 9 parrots squawking, 8 mills a-creaking
7 pumps a -struggling, 6 bores a- spluttering,
5 dry creek beds,
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
and a cockatoo in a dead tree.
On the 12th day of Xmas my dry land gave to me
12 frogs a –croaking
11 mls of raining, 10 ants a-swarming, 9 parrots squawking,
8 mills a –creaking, 7 pumps a-struggling, 6 bores a-spluttering
5 dry creek beds,
4 hungry roos, 3 angry brown snakes, 2 mangy wombats
And a cockatoo in a dead tree.
(Image attribution Quentin Blake)