The Word Mate Poem by Francis Duggan

Usually used by a man greeting another man the Aussie terminology 'Mate'
A term colonial man brought from England that now seems out of date
Often used in greeting strangers a term of greeting nothing more
An Aussie antiquated word that lives on born of another shore
The one an Aussie greets as mate may not be his mate at all
Just a stranger in passing a face he may never more recall
The difference between the words of mate and mateship in real terms can be great
The former a word that can be used as a hello the latter to friendship does relate
Down Under the word mate a cultural thing from colonial times that does remain
Old habits die hard and old ways some do like to retain
A word that can have many meanings often used as a hello
On greeting somebody that you do not even know
Good Day to you Mate as the Aussie does say
Though weatherwise it may not even be a nice day.