Through Danny's Eyes

Here is a warm and fuzzy one, I’ve heard this

As a song and a poem, and I love it either way.

Through Danny’s Eyes

Ten years ago I met them,

Whilst on a trip out west

As I neared the homestead,

Looking forward to a rest

And a cold beer with the owner,

Or at least a cup of tea.

Suddenly two kids appeared,

Scared the daylights out of me.

Guessed their ages were the same,

Maybe eight or nine,

I stopped the car beside them

As one gave me the sign,

His hair and skin were black as coal,

He gave a pearly grin

“If yer headin’ for the station house

Mind if we hop in.”

He quickly opened up the door,

Said,”Hi my name is Danny

My friend here is Emanuel

Most folk call him Mannie.”

A tall, slender fair skinned lad

Held out his hand to me

And as I gazed upon his face

I knew he could not see.

“Pleased to meet you boys” I said

“Why not call me Fred?”

Dan said that his dad was a stockman

While Mannie’s owned the spread.

“Us two kids are bonzer mates

‘Cause we’ve grown up together.”

The arm he placed around his friend

Shone like polished leather.

Later in the evening –

I’d been asked to stay the night

Talk turned to my passengers

And Mannie’s lack of sight.

“What lack of sight?” His father asked

Then called to his son,

“Tell us what you saw today,

Bet you boys had fun.”

“First, dad I saw the rosy clouds

As the sun came up,

Then watched a tiny yellow bud

Become a buttercup

A lazy mottled lizard

Sunbaked on a log

And in the swamp a fat tadpole

Become a little frog.”

“The graceful brolgas danced about

On their long thin legs

While a father emu

Settled on ten dark green eggs.”

My host whispered to me

As my face showed surprise,

Yes, Fred he misses little,

He sees through Danny’s eyes

Mannie spoke of ancient tribes

That roamed the sun-drenched plain,

Of carpets of wild flowers

That blossom after rain

When he spoke of the dream-time

His voice so full of awe,

I realized ‘twas a miricale,

He saw what Danny saw!

Recently I journeyed west

And called on them again;

Just a sun bronzed lad appeared

His face filled with pain,

When I asked about Danny;

“His horse threw him ‘gainst a tree.”

‘Twas only then I noticed

That now this boy could see.

Folk told me of the accident

And a mateship rare –

Before he died

Dan whispered to people gathered there,

“Give my eyes to Mannie,

It’s his turn now to see

Tell him where I’m goin’

They’ll be no good to me.”

Now when Mannie sees

The stars or a rainbow bright,

Or gazes at his pretty wife

He thanks god for his sight

Then he thinks of his “bonzer mate”

Who neath the old oak lies

And how, just as in childhood

He sees through Danny’s eyes.

Written by F. Hart