People

Paddy Foley’s Please Explain

Paddy Foley was a guard on the Mail Train working from Mackay to Townsville. In acage in the guard’s van was a valuable breeding canary consigned to B. Lane, Cairns.The unfortunate bird died enroute and Paddy’s reply to the “please explain” has becomelegendary. The poem below was first published in Viv Daddow’s book:The Puffing Pioneersand Queensland’s Railway Builders (University of Qld Press) 1975.

Dear and venerated shades of my departed fathers, look down on your suffering offspring who is nowcharged with the wilful murder of a miserable canary. I, whose ancestors stretch in an unbroken linefrom the landing of St Patrick; I, whose forebears twanged their harps, composed and sang their songson Tara’s Hall! For the inference cast, I have but this to say:

Shure the death of this bird

may not have occurred

had his coat been a beautiful green

But he being yellow,

this unfortunate fellow,

his early demise was foreseen.

This bird in the van

with a lone Irishman

may have raised his ancestral rage;

But I cannot conceive,

or hardly believe,

he murdered him foul in his cage!

And so in conclusion,

let there be no delusion

I did this poor bird slaughter.

I beg to advise

‘tis safe to surmise

he died from want of fresh air and water.

Should my reply seem confusing

when it you’re perusing,

do not think me evasive or hard.

You have the sympathy,

if of much use that may be,

of P.J. Foley-the Guard.