The Nar Nar Goon Pub

Another true story, but I might have taken a few liberties.

 

 

There’s a tiny town in Australia,

With a really silly name.

I’d like to describe an incident

That gave it national fame.

In ‘Nar Nar Goon’ it all took place

In nineteen seventy two.

They talk about it to this day,

The night the old pub blew.

 

The gas co. put in a heater,

Their plumbers packed up and went

They said 'Sign here, coz we're all done,

The Invoice will be sent.'

The publican turned the heater on full,

The place was as warm as toast.

It was the largest crowd they ever had,

And the biggest profit they'd grossed.

 

But the patrons noticed the smell of gas

And told the barman of course.

When he closed the door he thought it time

To try and find the source.

He followed his nose to  the cellar,

Where the pong was really strong.

He searched high and low to no avail.

But he knew there was something wrong.

 

At the top of the cellar stairs

He stopped to turn out the light.

He flicked the switch and up it went,

As that gas leak did ignite.

The pub was blown to smithereens

Reduced to match sticks and splinters.

So much for that bloody heater

That was meant to warm their winters.

 

The blast was felt many miles away,

Broken windows all over  town.

The saddest thing  they’d ever seen,

Every drinking man with a frown.

But what of that poor old barman?

He survived that mighty blast.

Dazed he crawled out from the rubble,

His life had just flashed past.

 

He'd had discomfort all day long

Suffering a dose of colic.

By closing time the pressure intense

His condition nearing  chronic.

As they helped him stand on his own two  feet,

Not a moan or hint of bitchin.

He mumbled ‘Thank the Lord I never let that go,

..Near the wife or in the kitchen.’

 

 

 

Author's Note

Hey, it is a real place, I live there.

Reviews

[S.L.H]

Great stuff. Good flow with a classic tale.

[Keith]

Thank you SLH, true story right here where I live. So nice to have an Aussie on board. I stay at Freo a fair bit when on work trips to Perth, lived at Bullsbrook for 2 years.

[Sheila Kline]

I absolutely adore it.........you have me laughing and holding my sides with a "hee haw" kind of chuckling!
The story is so dang hilarious but so well crafted! And, you even have the pictures to prove the story - of course, the liberties taken are accepted and enjoyed!!
Great, really a great "tail ending"......oh, I know it's corny, but after all???

[Keith]

Thank you so much Sheila, makes my day when someone gets a laugh. I actually saw these newspaper storiers the day after it happened, it begged a poem to be written, just tooke me 40 years to get around to it. But then again, I only really started writing about a year ago.

[Baby Ricochet]

Funny poem. Applause all around. Nar nar goon. That's funny

[Keith]

Thanks BR, I had fun with that.

[Angi]

Ha! LMAO! Oh my, that made me laugh out loud. The last lines were explosive! Ha! Nar Nar Goon is a real town? What a funny name. I am glad he didn't get killed and I am glad he had such a wonderful sense of humor! Angi~

[Keith]

Hi Angi. You betcha its a real place, about 60 miles east of Melbourne. Freezing at the moment, just put wood on the fire, nearly midnight, seems to be when I catch up WC. Thanks again for reading, so glad you got a laugh.

[Angi]

Man! It is swealtering here. almost 80 degrees at 10 am. I long for fall to arrive! Australia is on my bucket list, ya know. One day..

[Angi]

*sweltering. I hate to misspell things. I have to correct them when I commit that heinous crime. Ha!

[Keith]

At 10 am you are Eastern U S I assume and somewhat South, I spent a month in Columbus OH 2001, loved thar area. Come on down under somtime, plenty to see and do.

[Angi]

You assume correctly. Feels like a wet blanket is laying over the land. Someday I will get there, someday.

[s y e]

Hahaha, the last line had me laughing. xD

This was such an interesting but tragic tale. The way you wrote it, took me on a little journey, made me feel like I was there. You got the emotions spot on. Good job, Keith!

~ Noodle.

[Keith]

Thank you Noodle, much appreciated.

[TL Boehm]

the last line had me laughing in spite of myself. What a fascinating and tragic tale told so well.

[Keith]

Thank you Tammy.

[Phantom Heart]

The saddest poem I have read. Poor people and poor beer. The last line!

[Keith]

Ah yes, that would be a disaster in Nar Nar Goon if it happened today.

[Nia Hope]

I never knew about that and the way you made it a poem was amazing awesome job keep it up!

[Keith]

Thank you Ankara, I have plenty more stories to tell.

[Leslie Philibert]

a funny narrative poem,perfectly written, Ozzie Pure ! Great !

[Keith]

Thank you Leslie, much appreciated.