A strange machine
Two wheels and a seat
Works like a horse
It's driven by feet
It sat in the yard
At Cobb and Co
Waiting fir it's owner
To return to town
The Mississippi Belle was due
They'd been to Mildura
Laden with wool
Returning with furniture
It will replace the horse
The newspaper said
Sparking Curly's interest
He'd give it a go
He wrote to his father
Who found one in Malvern
A new design with pushers
Operated by your feet
They went from dawn
Until dark each day
Tiring the crew
All eager to get home
Early afternoon Friday
The Belle tied up
Bluey and Curly
Unloaded the chairs
Joe Bolden gave a hand
He mentioned the machine
In the Cobb & Co yard
How strange it looked
Bluey laughed loudly
It'll never be popular
I think it is mine
Curly left them dumbfounded
He headed to Cobb and Co
Eager to try it
G'day Bert G'day Curly
It's out the back
They stood silently
Taking it in
What do you do with it?
Ride it like a horse
Show me
I'm not sure
I think you sit there
Pointing to the steel saddle
Curly sat on it
What the hell do I do
Moving foot rests
Came out of the wheel
Pushed one
Starting to move
He lifted his other foot
Promptly fell over
The Captain, Bluey and Donata
Cheered and laughed
Curly dusting himself off
I guess it's harder than I thought
Bluey held the back and pushed
As Curly tried again and again
Each time he got better
Two hours later they hit the pub
Laughing at curly's expense
The stories got grander
Dutch courage was building
He'll tame the bastard
Two hours of drinking
The Dutch courage of ten men
Drove Curly back to Cobb & Co
To tame the bloody thing
For an hour
He wasn't missed
A cheer and a yell
Emptied the pub
There was Curly
Battered and Bruised
Riding his stead
Up and down the street
Curly waved
Fell off
Got back on
Two hands on the steering
I can go faster than walking
He told the crowd
Watching with new respect
He did tame the bugger
Saturday he rode for hours
He got so good
He could wave
Without falling off
What is it called people asked
I don't know for sure
You treadle to make it go
Think I'll call it a treadly
Curly's Bike