The Nation of Alienation

I had a nervous breakdown

in Broken Hill

I found no mates

in Maitland

I just didn’t belong

in Bylong

I couldn’t endure

in Mildura

and it was all uphill

in Manildra.

I was briefly imprisoned

in Brisbane

before escaping to the Southern seas

to become the only bogan

in Bougainville.

I felt like a lemon

in Orange

moved from Mudgee to Coogee

and they still didn’t like me

tried Willcania

when I knew I shouldn’t

when they asked

“We’ll can ya?”

I knew I couldn’t.

and what are you gunna

do in Dunnedo ?

when you’ve done what you’ve

had to do in Gunnedah

I felt like a complete Galah

in Gularganbone

which I mistakenly tried to call my home,

and how I wound up

in Canowindra

don’t ask me.

I might take a flat

in Wattle Flat

or end up in a dead end

like Hill End

but I’ll always be agog

in old Dungog

bogged down

in Bogabri

so lonesome I could cry.

Alone in this great nation

the nation of alienation.

RM Cuppaidge Copyright © 2002