A very tuneful piece I could almost hear the plucking of a banjo in the breeze over a murder ballad. I don't think you should worry about it being a silly little poem because its not. I don't think there is such a thing as a bad poem its for the reader really. One mans gold is anothers manure. A dark subject but the wit behind the verses pulled it through. As I say it had a very rustic feel to it that I appreciated.

ThanX for sharing

John

I like the rhythm of the poem
3rd stanza 2nd line, do mean "motley" crew. 6th stanza, last line does not seem to flow as well as the other lines
You held my interest all the way through. Well written.

Linda

not to be able to read an allegory to the Mad Priest in it. If I try hard I can think of him selling out Australian resources to international concerns, and the murdered redhead certainly put me in mind of Julia, but I was stretching too hard.

It's fine as it is, more than you think it is, I think, really very effective.
Some suggestion-

and me a lad 12 years no more, [twelve, it's almost always better to spell numbers]

and the roof caved in, [lose and]

the sides were clad with rusting tin,
from another age when it was clad,[you know these 2 lines are problematic, the repetition of clad. Not sure how to rework them]

and slipped the tin [?]

the wind was whispering its distaste, [lose its]

You've got a great ear for the music of language, all these suggestions are just tidying up, but I think worth considering.