Analysis of Waratah and Wattle

Henry Lawson 1867 (Grenfell) – 1922 (Sydney)



Though poor and in trouble I wander alone,
With rebel cockade in my hat,
Though friends may desert me, and kindred disown,
My country will never do that!
You may sing of the Shamrock, the Thistle, the rose,
Or the three in a bunch, if you will;
But I know of a country that gathered all those,
And I love the great land where the Waratah grows.
And the Wattle-bough blooms on the hill.

Australia! Australia! so fair to behold-
While the blue sky is arching above;
The stranger should never have need to be told,
That the Wattle-bloom means that her heart is of gold.
And the Waratah's red with her love.

Australia! Australia! most beautiful name,
Most kindly and bountiful land;
I would die every death that might save her from shame,
If a black cloud should rise on the stand;
But whatever the quarrel, whoever her foes,
Let them come! Let them come when they will!
Though the struggle be grim, 'tis Australia that knows
That her children shall fight while the Waratah grows,
And the Wattle blooms out on the hill.


Scheme ABABCDCCD EFEEF GHGHCDCCD
Poetic Form
Metre 11001011001 1101011 11110101001 11011011 11110101001 101001111 111101011011 0110111011 001011101 01001011101 101111001 01011011111 101011101111 0011101 01001011001 11001001 1111001111011 101111101 11001001001 111111111 101011101011 1010111011 001011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,024
Words 187
Sentences 13
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 9, 5, 9
Lines Amount 23
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 265
Words per stanza (avg) 62
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 04, 2023

56 sec read
131

Henry Lawson

Henry Lawson 17 June 1867 - 2 September 1922 was an Australian writer and poet Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period more…

All Henry Lawson poems | Henry Lawson Books

3 fans

Discuss this Henry Lawson poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Waratah and Wattle" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/18172/waratah-and-wattle>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    4
    days
    10
    hours
    38
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    An expression where the literal meaning is different from the intended meaning is called ________.
    A metaphor
    B synonym
    C simile
    D idiom