English Poetry. Henry Lawson. The Wattle. Генри Лоусон.

Henry Lawson (Генри Лоусон)

The Wattle

I saw it in the days gone by, 
When the dead girl lay at rest, 
And the wattle and the native rose 
We placed upon her breast. 

I saw it in the long ago 
(And I’ve seen strong men die), 
And who, to wear the wattle, 
Hath better right than I? 

I’ve fought it through the world since then, 
And seen the best and worst, 
But always in the lands of men 
I held Australia first. 

I wrote for her, I fought for her, 
And when at last I lie, 
Then who, to wear the wattle, has 
A better right than I?

Henry Lawson’s other poems:

1. Wide Spaces
2. The Shearers
3. Australian Bards and Bush Reviewers
4. Trooper Campbell
5. The Uncultured Rhymer to His Cultured Critics

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