The Free-selector's Daughter

Henry Lawson

I met her on the Lachlan Side -- 
 A darling girl I thought her, 
And ere I left I swore I'd win 
 The free-selector's daughter. 
I milked her father's cows a month, 
 I brought the wood and water, 
I mended all the broken fence, 
 Before I won the daughter. 
I listened to her father's yarns, 
 I did just what I `oughter', 
And what you'll have to do to win 
 A free-selector's daughter. 
I broke my pipe and burnt my twist, 
 And washed my mouth with water; 
I had a shave before I kissed 
 The free-selector's daughter. 
Then, rising in the frosty morn, 
 I brought the cows for Mary, 
And when I'd milked a bucketful 
 I took it to the dairy. 
I poured the milk into the dish 
 While Mary held the strainer, 
I summoned heart to speak my wish, 
 And, oh! her blush grew plainer. 
I told her I must leave the place, 
 I said that I would miss her; 
At first she turned away her face, 
 And then she let me kiss her. 
I put the bucket on the ground, 
 And in my arms I caught her: 
I'd give the world to hold again 
 That free-selector's daughter!

Index + Blog :

Poetry Archive Index | Blog : Poem of the Day