Hitched
By C. J. Dennis
"An' — wilt — yeh — take — this — woman — fer — to — be —
Yer — weddid — wife?"…O, strike me! Will I wot?
TAKE 'er? Doreen? 'E stan's there ARSTIN' me!
As if 'e thort per'aps I'd rather not!
TAKE 'er? 'E seemed to think 'er kind was got
Like cigarette-cards, fer the arstin'. Still,
I does me stunt in this 'ere hitchin' rot,
An' speaks me piece: "Righto!" I sez, "I will."
"I will," I sez. An' tho' a joyful shout
Come from me bustin' 'eart — I know it did —
Me voice got sorter mangled comin' out,
An' makes me whisper like a frightened kid.
"I will," I squeaks. An' I'd 'a' give a quid
To 'ad it on the quite, wivout this fuss,
An' orl the starin' crowd that Mar 'ad bid
To see this solim hitchin' up of us.
"Fer — rich-er — er — fer — por-er." So 'e bleats.
"In — sick-ness — an' — in-ealth,"…An' there I stands,
An' dunno'arf the chatter I repeats,
Nor wot the 'ell to do wiv my two 'ands.
But 'e don't 'urry puttin' on our brands —
This white-'aired pilot-bloke — but gives it lip,
Dressed in 'is little shirt, wiv frills an' bands.
"In sick-ness — an' — in — " Ar! I got the pip!
An' once I missed me turn; an' Ginger Mick,
'Oo's my best-man, 'e ups an' beefs it out.
"I will!" 'e 'owls; an' fetches me a kick.
"Your turn to chin!" 'e tips wiv a shout.
An' there I'm standin' like a gawky lout.
(Aw, spare me! But I seemed to be ALL 'ands!)
An' wonders wot 'e's goin' crook about,
Wiv 'arf a mind to crack 'im where 'e stands.
O, lumme! But ole Ginger was a trick!
Got up regardless fer the solim rite.
('E 'awks the bunnies when 'e toils, does Mick)
An' twice I saw 'im feelin' fer a light
To start a fag; an' trembles lest'e might,
Thro' force o' habit like. 'E's nervis too;
That's plain, fer orl 'is air o' bluff an' skite;
An' jist as keen as me to see it thro'.
But, 'struth, the wimmin! 'Ow they love this frill!
Fer Auntie Liz, an' Mar, o' course, wus there;
An' Mar's two uncles' wives, an' Cousin Lil,
An' 'arf a dozen more to grin and stare.
I couldn't make me 'ands fit anywhere!
I felt like I wus up afore the Beak!
But my Doreen she never turns a 'air,
Nor misses once when it's 'er turn to speak.
Ar, strike! No more swell marridges fer me!
It seems a blinded year afore 'e's done.
We could 'a' fixed it in the registree
Twice over 'fore this cove 'ad 'arf begun.
I s'pose the wimmin git some sorter fun
Wiv all this guyver, an' 'is nibs's shirt.
But, seems to me, it takes the bloomin' bun,
This stylish splicin' uv a bloke an' skirt.
"To — be — yer — weddid — wife — " Aw, take a pull!
Wot in the 'ell's 'e think I come there for?
An' so 'e drawls an' drones until I'm full,
An' wants to do a duck clean out the door.
An' yet, fer orl 'is 'igh-falutin' jor,
Ole Snowy wus a reel good-meanin' bloke.
If 'twasn't fer the 'oly look 'e wore
Yeh'd think 'e piled it on jist fer a joke.
An', when at last 'e shuts 'is little book,
I 'eaves a sigh that nearly bust me vest.
But 'Eavens! Now 'ere's muvver goin' crook!
An' sobbin' awful on me manly chest!
(I wish she'd give them water-works a rest.)
"My little girl!" she 'owls. "O, treat'er well!
She's young — too young to leave 'er muvver's nest!"
"Orright, ole chook," I nearly sez. Oh, 'ell!
An' then we 'as a beano up at Mar's —
A slap-up feed, wiv wine an' two big geese.
Doreen sits next ter me, 'er eyes like stars.
O, 'ow I wished their blessed yap would cease!
The Parson-bloke 'e speaks a little piece,
That makes me blush an' 'ang me silly 'ead.
'E sez 'e 'opes our lovin' will increase —
I LIKES that pilot fer the things 'e said.
'E sez Doreen an' me is in a boat,
An' sailin' on the matrimonial sea.
'E sez as 'ow 'e 'opes we'll allus float
In peace an' joy, from storm an' danger free.
Then muvver gits to weepin' in 'er tea;
An' Auntie Liz sobs like a winded colt;
An' Cousin Lil comes 'round an' kisses me;
Until I feel I'll 'AVE to do a bolt.
Then Ginger gits end-up an' makes a speech —
('E'd 'ad a couple, but 'e wasn't shick.)
"My cobber 'ere," 'e sez, "'as copped a peach!
Of orl the barrer-load she is the pick!
I 'opes 'e won't fergit 'is pals too quick
As wus 'is frien's in olden days, becors,
I'm trustin', later on," sez Ginger Mick,
"To celebrate the chris'nin'."…'Oly wars!
At last Doreen an' me we gits away,
An' leaves 'em doin' nothin' to the scran.
(We're honey-moonin' down beside the Bay.)
I gives a 'arf a dollar to the man
Wot drives the cab; an' like two kids we ran
To ketch the train — Ah, strike! I could 'a' flown!
We gets the carridge right agen the van.
She whistles, jolts, an' starts…An' we're alone!
Doreen an' me! My precious bit o' fluff!
Me own true weddid wife!…An' we're alone!
She seems so frail, an' me so big an' rough —
I dunno wot this feelin' is that's grown
Inside me 'ere that makes me feel I own
A thing so tender like I fear to squeeze
Too 'ard fer fear she'll break…Then, wiv a groan
I starts to 'ear a coot call, "Tickets, please!"
You could 'a' outed me right on the spot!
I wus so rattled when that porter spoke.
Fer, 'struth! them tickets I 'ad fair forgot!
But 'e jist laughs, an' takes it fer a joke.
"We must ixcuse," 'e sez, "new-married folk."
An' I pays up, an' grins, an' blushes red….
It shows 'ow married life improves a bloke:
If I'd bin single I'd 'a' punched 'is head!
Poem Analysis:
In Hitched, Australian poet C. J. Dennis crafts a vibrant and humorous monologue that captures the lived experience of a working-class groom on his wedding day. Written in vernacular dialect and filled with colloquial expression, the poem reveals a raw, affectionate, and deeply human portrayal of love, nerves, and social performance. While at first glance it may seem purely comic, beneath its slang-laden exterior lies a poem brimming with sincerity, self-awareness, and a subversive view of traditional institutions like marriage.
Theme
The central theme of Hitched is love and commitment, seen through the lens of working-class masculinity. However, Dennis also explores themes of social anxiety, performance, and the pressure of conforming to formal rituals. While love motivates the speaker’s actions, his unease with the formal ceremony and the emotional expectations placed on him — especially by female relatives — highlights the disconnect between institutional expectations and individual experience.
The poem is ultimately a celebration of ordinary love — imperfect, fumbling, and deeply real — counterpointing the formalized, sentimental version of romance found in traditional wedding rites.
Tone and Voice
Dennis adopts a first-person dramatic monologue form, allowing the reader to hear the internal thoughts of the speaker — a larrikin archetype, rough around the edges but genuine in emotion. The tone is conversational, self-deprecating, and humorous. The speaker is overwhelmed by the ceremony, clearly uncomfortable with the formalities, but his devotion to Doreen remains evident throughout.
For example, in the opening stanza:
"TAKE 'er? Doreen? 'E stan's there ARSTIN' me! / As if 'e thort per'aps I'd rather not!"
The speaker's disbelief and indignation at the officiant’s formality show both his love for Doreen and his unease with ceremonial trappings.
Use of Vernacular and Satire
The poem’s charm stems largely from its use of Australian vernacular, an element that both roots the poem in a specific social context and functions as satire. Phrases like “Aw, strike me!”, “righto!”, “takes the bloomin’ bun”, and “a slap-up feed” draw readers into the world of the speaker and reveal his social class, values, and community.
This language not only provides comic relief, but also mocks the pretensions of the wedding ritual — such as the frilled shirt of the “pilot” (minister), or the officiousness of the vows. Yet, the satire never feels cruel; rather, it highlights the absurdity of tradition while still recognizing its emotional significance.
Characterization and Emotion
The speaker's emotional journey is conveyed through his nervousness, awkwardness, and understated affection. Initially, he is overwhelmed:
“Me voice got sorter mangled comin' out, / An' makes me whisper like a frightened kid.”
Despite his rough exterior, there’s a vulnerability and tenderness that emerges, especially in his reaction to Doreen's poise:
“But my Doreen she never turns a 'air, / Nor misses once when it's 'er turn to speak.”
Later, when they’re alone, the speaker reflects on the gravity of his new role:
“She seems so frail, an' me so big an' rough — / I dunno wot this feelin' is that's grown / Inside me 'ere…”
This passage reveals a deepening of emotional maturity. He's begun to realize that love isn't only about possession or romance — it's also about responsibility and protection.
Implied Meaning
Though the poem appears lighthearted, its makna tersirat suggests a critique of rigid societal norms, especially those surrounding gender roles and marital expectations. The speaker is torn between his authentic emotions and the social performance required by the wedding ceremony.
His discomfort with the ritualized parts of the day — the vows, the public attention, the tears of relatives — shows a disconnect between private feeling and public display. Yet, in the poem’s final stanzas, we see how genuine affection and loyalty transcend awkward ceremonies, proving that real love doesn’t need ornamentation.
Imagery and Symbolism
The poem is rich with visual and tactile imagery: the minister’s frilled shirt, the “two big geese” at the reception, the bustling crowd of women. These details ground the poem in a physical reality, allowing readers to picture every moment.
Perhaps the most poignant image comes at the end:
“She seems so frail, an' me so big an' rough — / I dunno wot this feelin' is…”
Here, Doreen becomes a symbol of vulnerability and beauty, while the speaker confronts his own emotional depth. The juxtaposition of “big and rough” with “frail” captures the complexity of his love — protective, awed, and transformative.
Poetic Elements
The poem doesn’t rely on traditional meter or rhyme schemes but instead finds its rhythm in natural speech patterns and repetitive phrasing. This mimics the way the speaker would naturally talk, lending authenticity.
Key unsur puisi include:
- Alliteration: "feel I’ll 'AVE to do a bolt" — intensifies sound and feeling.
- Enjambment: Lines flow into each other, mimicking the speaker’s continuous thought process.
- Irony: His desire to leave the ceremony, despite the fact it celebrates his love, is humorous but also telling.
- Dialogue and inner monologue: These create a strong dramatic voice and character depth.
At its heart, Hitched is a celebration of love in the face of social discomfort and tradition. It follows an average man navigating the ceremony of marriage with a mixture of confusion, awe, and devotion. Though socially clumsy, he is emotionally sincere — a reminder that love is not about the rituals, but the connection between two people.
Message
The amanat of Hitched is that authentic love does not need to be polished, eloquent, or ceremonious to be real. It is in the vulnerable, bumbling expressions — the whispered “I will,” the flustered reaction to a forgotten train ticket — that we see a truer, more grounded kind of love. The poem encourages us to value sincerity over formality, and emotion over presentation.
C. J. Dennis’s Hitched is more than a humorous tale of a working-class wedding. It’s a touching exploration of love, identity, and societal expectations, delivered in a voice that is as rich in character as it is in charm. The poem’s enduring relevance lies in its reminder that love, in all its awkwardness and imperfection, is deeply human — and deeply beautiful. Through the lens of a reluctant groom with a tender heart, Dennis offers a poetic tribute to every ordinary man whose feelings run deeper than his words can express.