The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5819 Message #3965169
Posted By: Stewie
06-Dec-18 - 06:37 PM
Thread Name: Origins: King of the Cannibal Islands
Subject: ADD: On The Death of Harold Holt (John Manifold)
A bit of thread creep, but mention of the King of the Cannibal Islands always makes me recall a beaut little poem by John Manifold. In December 1967, Australia lost its then Prime Minister, Harold Holt, who disappeared whilst swimming off the coast of Victoria. His body was never found.
On The Death of Harold Holt
(John Manifold)
Only a week before Christmas,
The happiest day of the year,
They held a wake for Harold Holt,
And the bigwig guests came here.
Bonnie Prince Charlie came owre the sea
With Wilson, who never smiles,
And L.B.J. from the U.S.A
And the king of the Cannibal Isles;
Chaps from Siam and from South Vietnam
And the Philippines too, I think;
Some for the sake of the free, free world,
And some for the free, free drink.
They made long speeches and shed loud tears
To propitiate Harold's ghost,
And the king of the Cannibal Isles got up
To propose a final toast.
He said: "We have had such a splendid time,
Such generous Christmas cheer,
We hope you'll be able to drown a Prime
Minister every year!"
--Stewie.