Far back in the bush where the kangaroos leap,
And the magpies and parroqeets chatter,
shepherd was sent with a large flock of sheep
The latter was scarce, and the grass very brown,
So they wanted much watching and leading,
At night they were glad on the ground to lie down,
And the shepherd a night's rest was needing.
He found an old hut made of saplings and bark,
That stood in the shade of a wattle,
It was comfortless, cold, very lonely, and dark,
And for years with the winds had done battle.
It needed no chimney to let the smoke rise,
The roof never offered obstruction,
Each corner admitted a view of the skies,
And the window had suffered destruction.
No bedstead was there, and the mattress was gone,
The blankets and pillow had vanished,
Of table and dishes for tea there were none,
And the door from its hinges was banished,
With some wattle branches the openings he shut,
Then stood for a moment in sorrow,
No time need I take in repairing this hut,
I shall leave it at daybreak tomorrow.
In this lonely place very badly I fare,
Since there's no one of whom I could borrow,
I felt rather sad at the first I declare,
But I'm glad I shall leave it to-morrow.
My bed may be hard, but it will not be long,
So while in a corner I burrow,
I'll warm it with hope, and light it with song,
And joyfully leave it to-morrow.
This earth is a mia mia of bushes and ruts,
And many discomforts surround us,
We live but as watchers in frail shepherds huts,
That may fall any moment around us,
The road may be hard, but it will not be long,
And though it be rugged and narrow,
We'll smooth it with hope and light it with song,
And make ready to leave it to-morrow.
JOHN RAE.
Ironbark School, August, 1884.
Notes
From the Victorian Newspaper North Melbourne Advertiser 22 Aug 1884 p. 4. Top