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Collected Poems

A Phoenix in the Fowl-Run

A Phoenix in the Fowl-Run

The Art Gallery Committee of the Christchurch City Council rejected 'The Pleasure Garden', by Frances Hodgkins, on the advice of three experts. (It was later bought by public subscription and now hangs, without much civic honour, in the MacDougall Gallery.)

A phoenix in the fowl-run!
Oh, this will never do!
Call Nicoll, Kelly, Wallwork,
page 170 And sound a view-halloo!
The phoenix is a fire-bird —
Oh, this is bad for trade!
A phoenix in the fowl-run!
Go call the Fire Brigade!

The hens are sitting pretty
Upon their tussock nests,
They dream like Walter Mitty
Of squatters' rich bequests;
While through the dusty city
Poor Fanny Hodgkins begs
The hens are sitting pretty
Upon their china eggs.

Bring Kelly, Wallwork, Nicoll
To put the phoenix out!
Their hose will only trickle?
They'll find some way, no doubt —
For public taste is fickle,
And nothing's too absurd.
Bring Kelly, Wallwork, Nicoll
To choke the fiery bird!

Call Nicoll, Wallwork, Kelly,
Three gentlemen of parts,
They'll make a dust, I tell 'ee —
Nor-westers of the arts,
More dry-as-dust than Shelley
(As full of wind? Well, just) —
Call Nicoll, Wallwork, Kelly,
And let them raise the dust!

Alas, the dust will quickly
Subside when they have done
And settle just as thickly
Upon the poultry-run;
And far away the phoenix
Will shine in clearer skies
While N. and K. and Wallwork
Rub dust into their eyes.