POETRY SPOT

Bonnie New South Wales

- Henry Lawson

It surely cannot be too soon, and never is too late,

It tones with all Australia’s tune to praise one’s native State,

And so I bring an old refrain from days of posts and rails,

And lift the good old words again, for Sunny New South Wales.

She bore me on her tented fields, and wore my youth away,

And little gold of all she yields repays my toil to-day;

By track and camp and bushman’s hut—by streets where courage fails—

I’ve sung for all Australia, but my heart’s in New South Wales.

The waratah and wattle there in all their glory grow—

And if they bloom on hills elsewhere, I’m not supposed to know,

The tales that other States may tell—I never hear the tales!

For I, her son, have sinned as well as Bonnie New South Wales.

I only know her heart is good to sweetheart and to mate,

And pregnant with our nationhood from Sunset to the Gate;

I only know her sons sail home on every ship that sails,

Though round the world ten times they roam from dear old New South Wales.

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From:

https://allpoetry.com/Bonnie-New-South-Wales 

The poem "Bonnie New South Wales" by Henry Lawson expresses a deep affection for the Australian state through straightforward and evocative language. Lawson's celebration of his homeland reflects the national pride and identity prevalent during the late 19th century. Compared to his other works, it exhibits a more optimistic and patriotic tone, celebrating the state's natural beauty, resilience, and role in shaping the nation. It captures the spirit of the time period by evoking the hardships and joys of early Australian life, while also hinting at the state's growing significance in a burgeoning nation.

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