Henry Lawson

“ You ask me to be gay and glad While lurid clouds of danger loom, And vain and bad and gambling mad, Australia races to her doom. You bid me sing the light and fair, The dance, the glance on pleasure's wings - While you have wives who will not bear, And beer to drown the fear of things. A war with reason you would wage To be amused for your short span, Until your children's heritage Is claimed for China by Japan. ”

“ I see the stricken city fall, The fathers murdered at their doors, The sack, the massacre of all Save healthy slaves and paramours - The wounded hero at the stake, The pure girl to the leper's kiss - God, give us faith, for Christ's own sake To kill our womankind ere this. I see the Bushman from Out Back, From mountain range and rolling downs, And carts race on each rough bush track With food and rifles from the towns ”

“ While not five thousand miles away The yellow millions pant for breath! But heed me now, nor ask me this - Lest you too late should wake to find That hopeless patriotism is The strongest passion in mankind! ”