6 Must-Read Henry Lawson Poems

Henry Lawson (1867–1922) was an iconic Australian writer and poet renowned for his vivid depictions of bush life and his realist approach to Australian working-class struggles. Born in Grenfell, New South Wales, he faced a tough upbringing, including the early onset of deafness and familial instability. His first poem, ‘A Song of the Republic’, appeared in The Bulletin in 1887, marking the start of a prolific career. Lawson’s works, like While the Billy Boils and The Drover’s Wife, reflect the hardships and resilience of life in rural Australia. Despite personal battles with alcoholism and poverty, he remains a beloved national figure.

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The Things We Dare Not Tell

‘The Things We Dare Not Tell’ explores humanity’s tendency to suffer alone and in silence, choosing to hide under a mask rather than open up.

Henry Lawson's speaker spends the poem sadly exploring the ways and reasons an individual might hide their inner turmoil, pretending to be fine when in reality they're withering away from the pain. In suppressing these emotions, they isolate themselves from others to endure grief, shame, and fear without any assistance. Although there is some bravery in maintaining those facades, the poem doesn't shy away from the truth: the longstanding loneliness of such stoicism will ultimately leave one a broken shell of oneself.

The fields are fair in autumn yet, and the sun's still shining there,

But we bow our heads and we brood and fret, because of the masks we wear;

Or we nod and smile the social while, and we say we're doing well,

But we break our hearts, oh, we break our hearts! for the things we must not tell.

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Before We Were Married

‘Before We Were Married’ laments the exchange of one man’s lofty freedom for the monotonous captivity they believe marriage to be.

Henry Lawson’s 'Before We Were Married' explores a deep nostalgia for life before marriage, marked by freedom, mateship, and the rugged Australian bush. The speaker mourns the loss of their carefree past, contrasting the adventurous bachelor life with the burdens of domesticity. Lawson’s poignant imagery reinforces the speaker’s regretful longing.

BLACKSOIL PLAINS were grey soil, grey soil in the drought.

Fifteen years away, and five hundred miles out;

Swag and bag and billy carried all our care

Before we were married, and I wish that I were there.

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In Possum Land

‘In Possum Land’ yearns to leave behind the urban clamor in favor of the tranquil sanctuary afforded by a rural landscape.

To Australian poet Henry Lawson, nature is far more appealing than urban life, and this poem shares the fundamental ways that's true. In contrasting the peaceful wilderness with the briefly mentioned but pungently loud cityscape, they unearth the purity of land where the possums play under starry skies. It is these creatures, mentioned in the title, that embody the fulfillment of the speaker's desire to break free.

In Possum Land the nights are fair,

The streams are fresh and clear;

No dust is in the moonlit air;

No traffic jars the ear.

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39

’39’ is a poem in which the narrator looks back on his life while eagerly awaiting his fortieth birthday and the years that will follow.

On the surface, this poem does not seem like a very good example of Henry Lawson's work. Lawson's work was marked by a realistic portrayal of the harsh way of life that people lived in Australia at the time. It looked at working-class lives and the daily struggles that people endured. However, the poet does touch on the harsh working conditions that the man lived through, as well as the rough life of his twenties - even if he looks at them in a positive light. There is also the idea that this poem is not as positive as it initially seems, and it could be as negative as some of Lawson's other poetry, but in a more subtle way.

I only woke this morning

To find the world is fair —

I'm going on for forty,

With scarcely one grey hair;

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The Water

Henry Lawson’s ‘The Water’ captures Australia’s battle against drought and corporate greed, blending hope for irrigation’s potential with a call to protect communal resources.

'The Water' is a meaningful but somewhat average example of Henry Lawson’s work. It certainly lacks the emotional depth and subtle storytelling seen in some of his most celebrated pieces, like "The Drover’s Wife" or "Andy’s Gone With Cattle." The poem’s strength lies in its purpose, but its language feels more direct and functional than poetic.

Let others make the songs of love

For our young struggling nation;

But I will sing while e'er I live

The Songs of Irrigation;

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The Tragedy

‘The Tragedy’ by Henry Lawson is a humorous poem written as an advertisement, recounting the tale of a man whose prized cough medicine was stolen.

Much of Henry Lawson's poetry was written in a humorous tone and with an informal, casual feel to it. However, as an advertisement, this might not be the best example of his work.

Oh, I never felt so wretched, and things never looked so blue,

Since the days I gulped the physic that my Granny used to brew;

For a friend in whom I trusted, entering my room last night,

Stole a bottleful of Heenzo from the desk whereon I write.

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6 Must-Read Henry Lawson Poems

The Things We Dare Not Tell

Before We Were Married

In Possum Land

39

The Water

The Tragedy

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