The Glass on the Bar by Henry Lawson
A young man returns to his hometown after a long absence and finds that nothing has changed, yet everything is different. He reflects on the past and the people he left behind, including a woman who was once in love with him but now seems distant and uninterested. The story explores themes of nostalgia, lost love, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1916 · Genre: Poetry, Australian Literature, Bush Ballad · 351 words
First lines
Three bushmen one morning rode up to an inn, And one of them called for the drinks with a grin; They'd only returned from a trip to the North, And, eager to greet them, the landlord came forth. He absently poured out a glass of Three Star. And set down that drink with the rest on the bar.
'There, that is for Harry,' he said, 'and it's queer, 'Tis the very same glass that he drank from last year; His name's on the glass, you can read it like print, He scratched it himself with an old piece of flint; I remember his drink -- it was always Three Star' -- And the landlord looked out through the door of the bar.
What this Textopian page supports
The Glass on the Bar is listed on Textopian as a poem by Henry Lawson, dated 1916 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Henry Lawson
- Date: 1916 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Australian Literature, Bush Ballad, Tragedy, Friendship
- Length: 351 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Glass on the Bar by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Australian Literature — The setting and characters are distinctly Australian, reflecting the culture and landscape.
- Bush Ballad — The narrative focuses on bushmen and their experiences, typical of bush ballads.
- Tragedy — The theme revolves around loss and mourning for a deceased friend.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Realism · Social Commentary · Poverty · Working Class Life · Outback Setting · Rural Australia · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Australian Literature · 19th Century Literature