The Magpies- Dennis Glover

In 9MY English, Mr McCartney has got us to read the poem The Magpies by Dennis Glover and summarize it. Here is my summary on the story and what I feel the meaning is...

This poem is about a couple living in a farm a while ago. They got kicked out and the farm did not sell to anyone else so it’s still there. I feel the line “Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle. The magpies say.” represents the birds remaining there and doing the same thing throughout the years. I feel this poem represents how time moves on, some things change and some don't.

Here is the poem itself...

The Magpies

When Tom and Elizabeth took the farm
The bracken made their bed
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

Tom's hand was strong to the plough
and Elizabeth's lips were red
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

Year in year out they worked
while the pines grew overhead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

But all the beautiful crops soon went
to the mortgage man instead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

Elizabeth is dead now (it's long ago)
Old Tom's gone light in the head
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

The farm's still there. Mortgage corporations
couldn't give it away
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies say.