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About
the Lawson Album
THE FACES IN THE STREET
This poem deals with the issues of homelessness, unemployment and
poverty, in a way that bridges the ninety years or so since it was
written. Quite simply, it could have been written yesterday.
SONG OF THE REPUBLIC
A timely reminder that the current republican debate is not a new
phenomenon.
ON THE NIGHT TRAIN
This was Lawson's last poem in which he expresses his spiritual union
with the "mother bush". This is interesting because he uses similar
terms to those used by the aboriginal people of Australia when they
describe their relationship with the land. This view would have been
quite unusual among the European settlers of this period.
THE ROARING DAYS
A romantic view of the days before the gold rush changed the physical
and social landscape of Western Australia forever.
DO YOU THINK THAT I DO NOT KNOW?
In this poem, Lawson would appear to be answering those critics who
expressed the view that he could not tackle the topic of love. There
were apparently people who publicly criticised Lawson as being a writer
who could only write about the bush or politics or subjects that did not
deal directly with the more sensitive human emotions.
THE WATCH ON THE KERB
A down-to-earth look at the oldest profession in one of the
youngest countries.
KNOCKING ABOUT
This poem reminds us of the days when families, separated by economic
necessity, could not pick up the telephone and be magically in touch
with their loved ones thousands of miles away. The sad image of the old
farmer and his wife who when asked about their son who has gone
upcountry to seek his fortune droving or shearing, can only give the
poignantly vague answer: "Somewheres or others, he's knocking about".
MALLACOOTA BAR
Lawson spent time in Malacoota,
a small coastal fishing village on the south coast of New South Wales
where he stayed with E. J. Brady, another writer of the time. Malacoota
is actually in Victoria just south of Eden.
THE SLIPRAILS AND THE SPUR
Mary is the lonely farm girl waiting faithfully for her
beloved Jim, a young stockman, to return home. His work takes him away
from home for months at a time and this poem speaks eloquently of how
they deal with these lengthy separations and maintain their love for
each other.
ANDY`S GONE WITH CATTLE
This classic of Australian rural prose captures the isolation of the
bush and the dependence of families on their strong young men.
PAST CARIN'
The emotions of the female character in this song have become dulled
from having to endure a lifetime of hardship and from experiencing the
whole gamut of human tragedy.
SCOTS OF THE RIVERINA
The tragedy of war and its effect on a family of Scottish
migrants. Their son goes off to war, against his father's wishes, and is
killed without their conflict being resolved.
THE SWEENEY
A portrait of one of those characters you can still meet when traveling
through the Australian outback - self imposed exiles from the cities who
drift from town to town, never settling in one place for very long, who
try vainly to escape the ghosts of their conscience or their past.
Sweeney loves a drink, a fight and a yarn with a mate.
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