A poem by "Daybreak"
'Tis a jingle new that I'll pen for yon,
And one that you'll say is right.
Of the fields afar, where the miners are–
A rhyme for all I'll write.
Of a land most free, where the wrongs that be
Are ever enlarged by some,
A rhyme and say, in their cynical way,
Beware ! for the land is done.
Depression is here, they say, and sneer;
Our labors bring no reward ;
And they make a jest of the wealth possessed
Where the countrv is unexplored.
They prove no case, but they heap disgrace
On a land that is rich and fair,
And they picture gloom, for the Balfour toom,
They say is a rash nightmare.
Their tongues must lie, and the reason why
Those crawlers would dare to teach,
Is clear and plain to the normal brain,
For ever the same they preach
Their tale of woe as they come and go,
The loafers who seek a task ;
Who get their time and who leave the mine,
Or the land, with a grudge to last.
Look out for self and their god is pelf,
Aye, that is the ceed they hold
And they'd crush you down as they sneer and frown
And pilfer and take your gold ;
And they spread the lie till each passer by
Is blind to the things that are–
To the wealth untold that our mines must hold
On the Balfour fields afar.
Right through the west our land is blessed
With riches where forests stand,
And selectors new, as the line goes through,
Will settle upon the land.
The fact is clear, for the wealth is here,
So let them rave and scream ;
The trains shall go to the ports below,
With timber and ore and cream.
And they lie who say in their sceptic way
That Balfour is no more ;
We'll prove it too when the trains come through
With shipments of copper ore.
So let them preach and rave and screech.
In spite of all their whine,
They cannot stay the world to-day,
Nor stop the Balfour line.
Notes
From Railway Ballads by "Daybreak" - The Poet Lauriate of Circular Head published in Burnie Tasmania 1913
Circular Head Chronicle Wednesday 24 March 1915 p. 2.
Compliment to " Daybreak."
“ Daybreak" (Mr Clem. L. Gray) the North Forest poet, author of " Football Rhymes," Railway Ballads," " Patriotic Verses," etc., the latter booklet being recently published in aid of
Red Cross Fund, has received the following complimentary letter from Hon. Sir John McCall, Agent-
General for/Tasmania, in London :
—' Feb. 4, 1915. Dear Mr Gray.
—I have received from my friend, Mr Luke Williams, two copies of your " Patriotic Verses" and am
anxious tnat you should know they are much appreciated. This is a time when poets can, and do, render the Empire great service, and I am pleased to have verses from Tasmanians.
'Tis a jingle new that I'll pen for yon,
And one that you'll say is right.
Of the fields afar, where the miners are–
A rhyme for all I'll write.
Of a land most free, where the wrongs that be
Are ever enlarged by some,
A rhyme and say, in their cynical way,
Beware ! for the land is done.
Depression is here, they say, and sneer;
Our labors bring no reward ;
And they make a jest of the wealth possessed
Where the countrv is unexplored.
They prove no case, but they heap disgrace
On a land that is rich and fair,
And they picture gloom, for the Balfour toom,
They say is a rash nightmare.
Their tongues must lie, and the reason why
Those crawlers would dare to teach,
Is clear and plain to the normal brain,
For ever the same they preach
Their tale of woe as they come and go,
The loafers who seek a task ;
Who get their time and who leave the mine,
Or the land, with a grudge to last.
Look out for self and their god is pelf,
Aye, that is the ceed they hold
And they'd crush you down as they sneer and frown
And pilfer and take your gold ;
And they spread the lie till each passer by
Is blind to the things that are–
To the wealth untold that our mines must hold
On the Balfour fields afar.
Right through the west our land is blessed
With riches where forests stand,
And selectors new, as the line goes through,
Will settle upon the land.
The fact is clear, for the wealth is here,
So let them rave and scream ;
The trains shall go to the ports below,
With timber and ore and cream.
And they lie who say in their sceptic way
That Balfour is no more ;
We'll prove it too when the trains come through
With shipments of copper ore.
So let them preach and rave and screech.
In spite of all their whine,
They cannot stay the world to-day,
Nor stop the Balfour line.
Notes
From Railway Ballads by "Daybreak" - The Poet Lauriate of Circular Head published in Burnie Tasmania 1913
Circular Head Chronicle Wednesday 24 March 1915 p. 2.
Compliment to " Daybreak."
“ Daybreak" (Mr Clem. L. Gray) the North Forest poet, author of " Football Rhymes," Railway Ballads," " Patriotic Verses," etc., the latter booklet being recently published in aid of
Red Cross Fund, has received the following complimentary letter from Hon. Sir John McCall, Agent-
General for/Tasmania, in London :
—' Feb. 4, 1915. Dear Mr Gray.
—I have received from my friend, Mr Luke Williams, two copies of your " Patriotic Verses" and am
anxious tnat you should know they are much appreciated. This is a time when poets can, and do, render the Empire great service, and I am pleased to have verses from Tasmanians.
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