489 The new Pope (Er Papa novo)
Translated by Peter Nicholas Dale

I was leanen by the pillar uvan iron gate
Near home, chatten with a horse trader I’d met,
While they tore the blocks from the window, ta let
The Cardinal pop out n’read us the news break.

An I was the bloke this mornen who
Was the first tu’ en’er thru the main door when
The Pope climbed in’a’r his coach, an then
I cort site uv him passen by the Castle too.

I ran off ta St. Peter's but there the throng
Packed the churches so bad, bugger’em all,
Thad I mist the ceremony an can’ tellyer anythen.

As ta’rem shold’ren his chair as he rode tall,
I did get a dekko, but wot I wanted all along
Was ta see how he pud up with them burnen balls

11/6/2000
The sonnet is translated into "Strine", the dialect spoken in Australia down to the 1960s.

489 The new Pope (orthographically normalized version)
Translated by Peter Nicholas Dale

I was leaning by the pillar of this iron gate
Near home, chatting with a horse trader I’d met,
While they tore the blocks from the window, to let
The Cardinal pop out and read us the news break.

And I was the very bloke this morning who
Was the first to enter through the main door when
The Pope climbed in to his coach, and then,
I caught sight of him passing by the Castle too.

I ran off to St. Peter's, but there, the throng
Packed the churches so bad, bugger them all,
That I missed the ceremony and can’t tell you anything.

As to them shouldering his chair, as he rode tall,
I did get a dekko, but what I wanted all along
Was to see how he put up with them burning balls
 

11/6/2000