Lum Sing’s Damper : 21 stanzas each of 4 lines. An old Bob’s tall tale of a legendary damper and its uses.
All eyes in the bar searched for windows and doors
As a familiar voice filled the room,
While faces quite happy a short while before
Were frozen by impending doom.
They were trapped once again and they knew it quite well
Yet they settled back down with good grace,
For the beer tasted good in the Royal Hotel …
There was only one pub in the place!
Old Bob slaked his thirst and then ordered a round
So the drinkers all knew they were lost;
But his money was good and the tales that he told
Took up time, but that’s all that they cost.
“Well I heard they had rain on the ranges”, he said,
“We could do with a bit of it here;
And that puts me in mind off a time long ago …
Meanwhile I could do with a beer.