The Walrus And The Carpenter – Poem by K.R.
The time has come, the Walrus said
To talk of many things
Of shoes and ships and sealing wax
Of cabbages and kings
Of why we let this phantom out
To plague us like a curse
Machines that rob and games we lose
Whilst emptying our purse.
The Walrus said, I’m most perplexed
To find I have no money
I came here for a little fun
and now I’m full of worry.
The Carpenter, a wiser man
He took a languid look
He knew the odds,
he’d done his cash
On someone else’s book
My Walrus friend, I wish I knew
Why gambling sucks us in
I think its got a lot to do
With dreaming of a win.
Like that girl Alice, down the lane
Her of Wonderland
She’s off her head at times you know
We ought to have her banned.
She plays all day and then at night
She hardly gets her kip
She talks about White Rabbits
And flails around a bit
She hears bells ring and sees bright lights
It gets her in a dither.
That gambling urge is on again
Calling to her “come hither.”
So off she goes around the block
And starts on those adventures
Those characters she talks about
You know they’re Pokie features.
I know – the Walrus said at last
An expression pained and sallow
I’ve stood there too amongst them all
It makes you feel so shallow
But when you’re there you feel so good
Forget about your worries
It doesn’t last the distance though
You’re left with debt and sullies.
I’d like to know the reason why
I gamble all my money
It seems to me the King and Queen
Are making milk and honey
And then there’s Wonderland itself
I notice they’ve new parking
And what about that new saloon
I bet they’re really laughing.
The Carpenter looked down his nose
And made a little shuffle
Well Walrus my fine mate you know
Enough of this mere waffle.
We have to face some hard cool facts
About this gambling problem
It’s not just you and me you know
Who are facing this conundrum?
Whilst we can plan to phone G-line
And face our personal demons
The residents of Wonderland
Aren’t listening to these sermons.
They think its harmless fun you know
They’re often in denial
The Royal Court prefers that way
They like to see them loyal.
But look at Alice and her kids
The family’s in turmoil
One minute she’s so very grand
The next she’s very small.
They never have stability
They never know the score
They’re living hand to mouth again
Yet we say “They’re not poor.”
The community can’t see the pain
Behind her house so pretty
The shame she holds so close to her
Protects her from their pity
And yet the loss is ours as well
With economic funnelling
Gambling and high taxes
Means less - not more charitable funding
And then the shop-keepers who all lose out
Because of escape spending
The CBD’s not looking well
But banks are doing more lending.
And so the debt and tax goes round
No wonder we’re so merry
The Illusion keeps us all compound
Lets have another sherry!
KR
FEEDBACK
Please let us know whether the information on this page was useful.
Disclaimer - The opinions expressed in this website are not necessarily those held by the Gambling Impact Society (NSW) Inc. No responsibility will be accepted for anything that may occur as a result of anyone relying on the information and opinions contained in the website. |
