Clancy of the Overflow
Clancy of the Overflow is a classic Australian bush poem written by Andrew Barton Paterson in 1902. The poem tells the story of a drover named Clancy who, after a long day's work, sits on the banks of a river and watches the overflow of water as he smokes his pipe. The poem is known for its vivid imagery and use of language to evoke a sense of the Australian outback. It is considered one of Paterson's most famous works and is often anthologized in collections of Australian poetry.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Australian Literature, Romanticism · 494 words
First lines
I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago, He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him, Just 'on spec', addressed as follows, 'Clancy, of The Overflow'.
And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected, (And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar) 'Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it: 'Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are.'
What this Textopian page supports
Clancy of the Overflow is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Andrew Barton Paterson
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Australian Literature, Romanticism
- Length: 494 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — Andrew Barton Paterson is known for his poetry and 'Clancy of the Overflow' is one of his iconic works. The narrative is told in verse, which clearly marks it as a poem.
- Australian Literature — The narrative is set in Australia, evoking the country's rural life and landscapes, making it part of the Australian Literature genre.
- Romanticism — The poem depicts a romanticized vision of rural life and nature, complies with the Romanticism movement tradition.
Tags
Australian literature · classic novel · outback adventure · sheep farming · frontier life · exploration · nature writing · travel writing · adventure fiction · historical fiction · romance · coming of age