Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia, During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831, and 1832/Poetry
No. 8
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EARLY SPECIMEN
OF
AUSTRALIAN POETRY.
Tune—"Ballenamona Ora."
"A good Penny Wedding for me."
From the old western world we have come to explore.
The wilds of this Western Australian shores
In search of a country we ventured to roam.
And now that we've found it, let's make it our home.
And what though the Colony's new, Sirs,
And inhabitants yet may be few, Sirs,
They'll soon be increasing here too, Sirs,
So the Western Australia for me.
By care and attention I'm sure 'twill be found,
Two crops in the year we may get off the ground;
Good wood and good water, good flesh and good fish,
Good soil and good clime, and what more could you wish.
Let every one earnestly strive, Sir,
Do his best, be alert and alive, Sir,
We'll soon see our Colony thrive, Sir,
So Western Australia for me.
No furious south-easters—no burning simoon—
Our harvests to blight, and our fruits to consume:
No terrible plague, nor no pestilent air
Our "livers" to waste, though our lives they may spar
Our skies are all cloudless and bright, Sir,
And sweet is our lovely moonlight, Sir,
Oh this is the clime of delight, Sir,
So Western Australia for me.
No lions nor tigers we here dread to meet,
Our innocent quadrupeds hop on two feet;
No rent, tithes, nor taxes, we here have to pay.
And our "geese are all swans," as some witty folks say.
Then we live without trouble or stealth, Sirs,
Our currency's all Sterling wealth, Sirs,
So here's to our Governor's health, Sirs,
And the Western Australia for me.
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