The Australian Stockman
The poem celebrates the life and spirit of the Australian stockman, portraying the rugged beauty of the Australian landscape and the connection between the stockman and nature. It opens with vivid imagery of the sun rising over the mountains, illuminating the stockyard and the surrounding wilderness. The natural sounds, such as the rushing creeks and the calls of the goburra (kookaburra), create a lively atmosphere that reflects the vitality of the bush. The stockman is depicted as a figure of strength and resilience, thriving in the untamed environment. The contrast between the freedom of the bush and the constraints of urban life is emphasized, as the speaker expresses a preference for the natural world over the wealth and toil of city dwellers. The poem captures the essence of camaraderie with nature, as the stockman rides across the land, accompanied by the sounds of the wild. The recurring chorus reinforces the joy and exuberance of the stockman's life, celebrating the harmony between man and the wilderness. The imagery of the dingo and the night owl adds to the sense of a vibrant ecosystem, where every creature plays a role in the symphony of the bush. The poem ultimately conveys a deep appreciation for the Australian landscape and the unique lifestyle of those who inhabit it, highlighting themes of freedom, connection to nature, and the pride of the stockman.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1895 · Genre: Poetry, Australian Literature, Nature Writing · 363 words
First lines
The sun peers o'er you wooded ridge and thro' the forest dense, Its golden edge o'er the mountain ledge looks down on the stockyard fence, Looks down, looks down, looks down on the stockyard fence; And dark creeks rush thro' the tangled brush, when their shuddering shadows throng Until they chime in the rude rough rhyme of the wild goburra's song.
Chorus Till they chime, ha! ha! till they chime, ha! ha! in the wild goburra's song; Till they chime, ha! ha! till they chime, ha! ha! in the wild goburra's song.
What this Textopian page supports
The Australian Stockman is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Australian Literature, Nature Writing, Romanticism, Ballad
- Length: 363 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Australian Stockman by Andrew Barton Paterson
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Australian Literature — The themes and setting are deeply rooted in Australian culture and landscape.
- Nature Writing — The vivid descriptions of the Australian environment and wildlife are central to the text.
- Romanticism — The emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience aligns with Romantic literary themes.
Tags
Australian · Stockman · poetry · nature · landscape · rural · Australia · bush · wildlife · goburra · dingo · mountains