Jimbo and Gary Have an Adventure

Jimbo Bazoobi and his good friend Gary

were strolling round Sydney, down at the Rocks

(Jim was clean-shaven and Gary was hairy)

when who should they meet but a couple of cops.

Gary was hungry, and there were some flowers

by the edge of the road, so he ate them of course.

The coppers decided to use their powers

to charge him and fine him. Could things get worse?

Four hundred dollars they said — no, four–forty.

Gary didn’t have that and Jimbo was broke.

They didn’t even think what he’d done was so naughty.

Gary, after all, was actually a goat.

And goats do eat plants, the judge pointed out.

No-one could prove they went there with intent.

They were simply visiting, walking about

like anyone else, these two good friends.

The case was thrown out, the fine was refunded;

the people of Sydney reacted with cheers.

Why shouldn’t a goat eat some grass if he’s hungry?

Gary said nothing, just wiggled his ears.

(There were ear-holes in the hat on his head.)

‘We travel all over: north, south, east, west.

We just like to have adventures,’ Jim said.
He grinned. 'This adventure was one of the best.’

Poetic Asides, November Poem A Day Chapbook Challenge 2: A news item.