The Wattle

Henry Lawson

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? 

Next 10 Poems

• Henry Lawson : The Wreck Of The `derry Castle'
• Henry Lawson : To An Old Mate
• Henry Lawson : To Be Amused
• Henry Lawson : To Hannah
• Henry Lawson : Trooper Campbell
• Henry Lawson : Uncle Harry
• Henry Lawson : Up The Country
• Henry Lawson : Victory
• Henry Lawson : Waratah And Wattle
• Henry Lawson : When The `army' Prays For Watty

Previous 10 Poems

• Henry Lawson : The Wander-light
• Henry Lawson : The Vagabond
• Henry Lawson : The Tragedy
• Henry Lawson : The Things We Dare Not Tell
• Henry Lawson : The Teams
• Henry Lawson : The Star Of Australasia
• Henry Lawson : The Song Of The Darling River
• Henry Lawson : The Song Of Old Joe Swallow
• Henry Lawson : The Song Of Australia
• Henry Lawson : The Song And The Sigh