'The Star of Australasia' by Henry Lawson
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We boast no more of our bloodless flag, that rose from a nation's slime;
Better a shred of a deep-dyed rag from the storms of the olden time.
From grander clouds in our `peaceful skies' than ever were there before
I tell you the Star of the South shall rise -- in the lurid clouds of war.
It ever must be while blood is warm and the sons of men increase;
For ever the nations rose in storm, to rot in a deadly peace.
There comes a point that we will not yield, no matter if right or wrong,
And man will fight on the battle-field
while passion and pride are strong --
So long as he will not kiss the rod, and his stubborn spirit sours,
And the scorn of Nature and curse of God are heavy on peace like ours.
.....
There are boys out there by the western creeks, who hurry away from school
To climb the sides of the breezy peaks or dive in the shaded pool,
Who'll stick to their guns when the mountains quake
to the tread of a mighty war,
And fight for Right or a Grand Mistake as men never fought before;
When the peaks are scarred and the sea-walls crack
till the furthest hills vibrate,
And the world for a while goes rolling back in a storm of love and hate.
.....
There are boys to-day in the city slum and the home of wealth and pride
Who'll have one home when the storm is come, and fight for it side by side,
Who'll hold the cliffs 'gainst the armoured hells
that batter a coastal town,
Or grimly die in a hail of shells when the walls come crashing down.
And many a pink-white baby girl, the queen of her home to-day,
Shall see the wings of the tempest whirl the mist of our dawn away --
Shall live to shudder and stop her ears to the thud of the distant gun,
And know the sorrow that has no tears when a battle is lost and won, --
As a mother or wife in the years to come, will kneel, wild-eyed and white,
And pray to God in her darkened home for the `men in the fort to-night'.
.....
But, oh! if the cavalry charge again as they did when the world was wide,
'Twill be grand in the ranks of a thousand men
in that glorious race to ride
And strike for all that is true and strong,
for all that is grand and brave,
And all that ever shall be, so long as man has a soul to save.
He must lift the saddle, and close his `wings', and shut his angels out,
And steel his heart for the end of things,
who'd ride with a stockman scout,
When the race they ride on the battle track, and the waning distance hums,
And the shelled sky shrieks or the rifles crack
like stockwhip amongst the gums --
And the `straight' is reached and the field is `gapped'
and the hoof-torn sward grows red
With the blood of those who are handicapped with iron and steel and lead;
And the gaps are filled, though unseen by eyes,
with the spirit and with the shades
Of the world-wide rebel dead who'll rise and rush with the Bush Brigades.
.....
All creeds and trades will have soldiers there --
give every class its due --
And there'll be many a clerk to spare for the pride of the jackeroo.
They'll fight for honour and fight for love, and a few will fight for gold,
For the devil below and for God above, as our fathers fought of old;
And some half-blind with exultant tears, and some stiff-lipped, stern-eyed,
For the pride of a thousand after-years and the old eternal pride;
The soul of the world they will feel and see
in the chase and the grim retreat --
They'll know the glory of victory -- and the grandeur of defeat.
The South will wake to a mighty change ere a hundred years are done
With arsenals west of the mountain range and every spur its gun.
And many a rickety son of a gun, on the tides of the future tossed,
Will tell how battles were really won that History says were lost,
Will trace the field with his pipe, and shirk
the facts that are hard to explain,
As grey old mates of the diggings work the old ground over again --
How `this was our centre, and this a redoubt,
and that was a scrub in the rear,
And this was the point where the guards held out,
and the enemy's lines were here.'
.....
They'll tell the tales of the nights before
and the tales of the ship and fort
Till the sons of Australia take to war as their fathers took to sport,
Their breath come deep and their eyes grow bright
at the tales of our chivalry,
And every boy will want to fight, no matter what cause it be --
When the children run to the doors and cry:
`Oh, mother, the troops are come!'
And every heart in the town leaps high at the first loud thud of the drum.
They'll know, apart from its mystic charm, what music is at last,
When, proud as a boy with a broken arm, the regiment marches past.
And the veriest wreck in the drink-fiend's clutch,
no matter how low or mean,
Will feel, when he hears the march, a touch
of the man that he might have been.
And fools, when the fiends of war are out and the city skies aflame,
Will have something better to talk about than an absent woman's shame,
Will have something nobler to do by far than jest at a friend's expense,
Or blacken a name in a public bar or over a backyard fence.
And this you learn from the libelled past,
though its methods were somewhat rude --
A nation's born where the shells fall fast, or its lease of life renewed.
We in part atone for the ghoulish strife,
and the crimes of the peace we boast,
And the better part of a people's life in the storm comes uppermost.
The self-same spirit that drives the man to the depths of drink and crime
Will do the deeds in the heroes' van that live till the end of time.
The living death in the lonely bush, the greed of the selfish town,
And even the creed of the outlawed push is chivalry -- upside down.
'Twill be while ever our blood is hot, while ever the world goes wrong,
The nations rise in a war, to rot in a peace that lasts too long.
And southern nation and southern state, aroused from their dream of ease,
Must sign in the Book of Eternal Fate their stormy histories.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Star of Australasia: A Masterpiece of Australian Poetry
Introduction
When Australian literature is discussed, Henry Lawson's name is never far behind. Considered one of the greatest writers of Australia, his works have become an integral part of Australian literature. One such masterpiece, "The Star of Australasia," is a poem that captures the essence of the Australian bush and the people who live there. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its significance and meaning.
Background
Henry Lawson was born in 1867 in Grenfell, New South Wales, and spent most of his childhood in the bush. His upbringing in the bush gave him a deep understanding and appreciation for the people and the land. Lawson's works reflect the harsh realities of the bush, the struggles of the people, and their unyielding spirit.
"The Star of Australasia" was first published in 1899 in the Bulletin, a magazine that was instrumental in promoting Australian literature. The poem was an instant hit, and it became one of Lawson's most famous works. The poem tells the story of a miner, who discovers a large gold nugget and becomes rich overnight. However, his newfound wealth brings him nothing but misery, and he longs to return to his simple life in the bush.
Analysis
Form and Structure
"The Star of Australasia" is a ballad, a form of poetry that tells a story through song. The poem consists of six stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, which means each line contains four iambs, or stressed and unstressed syllables.
The poem's structure is simple and straightforward, which reflects the simple and straightforward life of the bush people. The repetitive rhyme scheme and meter create a musical quality to the poem, making it easy to remember and recite.
Themes
The themes of "The Star of Australasia" are quintessentially Australian. The poem explores the themes of wealth, greed, and the search for a better life. The miner's discovery of the gold nugget represents the pursuit of wealth, which is a common theme in Australian literature. The poem shows that wealth does not bring happiness and that material possessions cannot replace the simple pleasures of life.
Another theme explored in the poem is the idea that the bush is a place of sanctuary. The miner longs to return to the bush, where he can live a simple life and be close to nature. The poem celebrates the beauty of the bush and the resilience of the people who live there.
Imagery
The imagery in "The Star of Australasia" is vivid and evocative. Lawson's use of imagery creates a sense of the harshness and beauty of the bush. In the first stanza, Lawson describes the miner's discovery of the gold nugget:
He found a nugget yesterday While on his way to Bourke, They found it weighed a hundredweight, They named it "Star of Austral."
The imagery of the large gold nugget is significant as it represents the miner's newfound wealth. The use of the name "Star of Australasia" also adds to the mythical quality of the poem.
In the final stanza, Lawson uses imagery to describe the miner's longing for the bush:
He sighs for the pines and wattle That sigh in the gusty breeze, And the bright green plain with its cattle And the birds in the mulga trees.
The use of imagery here creates a sense of nostalgia and longing. The miner longs for the simple pleasures of life, such as the sound of the wind in the trees and the sight of cattle grazing in a green pasture.
Tone
The tone of "The Star of Australasia" is melancholic and reflective. The poem explores the idea that wealth does not bring happiness and that the search for a better life can lead to misery. The miner's longing for the bush creates a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time and way of life.
The poem's reflective tone also suggests that the poem is a commentary on the rapid changes occurring in Australia at the time. The discovery of gold in Australia led to rapid economic growth, but it also led to social upheaval and the displacement of Indigenous Australians. The poem suggests that the pursuit of wealth should not come at the expense of a simpler and more meaningful way of life.
Conclusion
"The Star of Australasia" is a masterpiece of Australian poetry that captures the essence of the bush and the people who live there. Through its use of form, structure, theme, imagery, and tone, the poem explores the search for a better life and the consequences of wealth and greed. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to Henry Lawson's skill as a writer and his ability to capture the spirit of Australia.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Star of Australasia: A Classic Poem by Henry Lawson
Henry Lawson, one of Australia's most celebrated poets, wrote "The Star of Australasia" in 1896. This classic poem is a tribute to the Australian spirit and the country's natural beauty. It is a powerful and evocative piece of literature that captures the essence of the Australian identity.
The poem begins with a description of the night sky, with its "million golden worlds on high." The speaker marvels at the beauty of the stars, but then focuses on one in particular, the "Star of Australasia." This star is described as "brighter than the brightest" and "fairer than the fairest." It is a symbol of hope and inspiration for the people of Australia.
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the land itself. The speaker describes the rugged terrain, the "mountains grim and grand," and the "mighty rivers" that flow through the country. Despite the harshness of the landscape, the people of Australia are resilient and determined. They are "sons of the soil" who are "brave and true."
The third stanza of the poem is a call to action. The speaker urges the people of Australia to "rise up and be true" to the spirit of their country. They are called upon to be "brave and strong" and to "fight for the right." The Star of Australasia is a symbol of this fight, a beacon of hope that inspires the people to stand up for what they believe in.
The final stanza of the poem is a celebration of the Australian spirit. The speaker describes the people as "free and fearless" and "true to the core." They are a proud and independent people who are not afraid to stand up for themselves. The Star of Australasia shines down on them, a symbol of their strength and determination.
Overall, "The Star of Australasia" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of the Australian identity. It celebrates the natural beauty of the country and the resilience of its people. It is a call to action, urging the people of Australia to stand up for what they believe in and fight for their rights. Henry Lawson's classic poem is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Australian people and their love for their country.
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