Elegy Upon Ongar High Street

They took a little gravel,
And they took a little tar,
With various ingredients,
Imported from afar.
They hammered it and rolled it,
And then they went away,
They said they had a high-street,
That would last for many a day.

But they came with picks and smote it,
To lay a water main,
And then they called the workmen,
To put it back again.
To lay a big new gas-pipe,
They took it up once more,
And then they put it back again,
Just where it was before.

Oh, the high street's full of furrows,
There are patches everywhere,
You would like to ride upon it,
But it's seldom that you dare.
It's wonderful! Our High Street,
A credit to the town,
They're always taking it up,
Or putting of it down.

And now the road to Fyfield,
Where Horsnail rides each day,
They're digging up the gravel,
Along the permanent way.
They'll make a grand new roadway,
With gravel and with tar,
But soon they'll take it up again,
It's lovely surface mar.

And very soon will Horsnail,
Experience many a jar,
And wish to Ongar Station,
The way was not so far.
Then our wonderful surveyors,
Will make the roadway up again,
With gravel and with tar.

R. DUNN