The Murrumbidgee Shearer
The narrative follows the life of a shearer who recounts his experiences and adventures across various Australian landscapes. He describes his travels along rivers such as the Barwon, Darling, Murrumbidgee, and Paroo, highlighting the hardships and challenges he faced. The shearer reflects on his encounters with squatters, often facing rejection and disdain, which leads him to resort to theft and arson out of desperation. He shares anecdotes of his time at different stations, where he managed to secure food and work, albeit through dubious means. The shearer's life is marked by a sense of rebellion against authority, as he frequently evades capture by the law, showcasing his cunning and resourcefulness. He emphasizes his survival skills, including foraging and hunting, which sustain him during his fugitive lifestyle. Throughout the poem, the shearer expresses a sense of camaraderie with fellow workers and a pride in his identity as a shearer, despite the hardships. His experiences reflect the broader themes of resilience, freedom, and the rugged nature of life in the Australian outback. The work captures the spirit of the era, portraying the shearer's life as both adventurous and fraught with danger, ultimately celebrating the tenacity and independence of those who lived it.
By Andrew Barton Paterson · First published 1902 · Genre: Poetry, Australian Literature, Narrative · 482 words
First lines
Come, all you jolly natives, and I'll relate to you Some of my observations -- adventures, too, a few. I've travelled about the country for miles, full many a score, And oft-times would have hungered, but for the cheek I bore.
I've coasted on the Barwon -- low down the Darling, too, I've been on the Murrumbidgee, and out on the Paroo; I've been on all the diggings, boys, from famous Ballarat; I've loafed upon the Lachlan and fossicked Lambing Flat.
What this Textopian page supports
The Murrumbidgee Shearer is listed on Textopian as a poem by Andrew Barton Paterson, dated 1902 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: 1902 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Australian Literature, Narrative, Humor, Ballad
- Length: 482 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Australian Literature — The poem reflects Australian culture, landscape, and the experiences of shearers, central to the nation's literary identity.
- Narrative — The poem tells a story of the speaker's adventures and experiences, characteristic of narrative forms.
- Humor — The tone and some situations presented in the poem contain elements of humor and irony.
Tags
Australian literature · poetry · bush ballad · shearing · adventure · humor · rural life · outback · narrative · identity · folklore · travel