WRP 10: Australia

World Reading Project, Book #10

Australia

The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses, by Andrew Barton "Banjo"  Paterson, 1895

Clay read these poems and suggested this book to me for good reason; I mean, look at that cover. It's in the public domain, so you can read it for free on Gutenberg.org! This is the first book of poetry I've picked for my project. Banjo Paterson's most famous work is the bush ballad "Waltzing Matilda". He wrote lots of poetry about the outback, sheep shearing, cattle drovers, and lots and lots of horses. I enjoyed this book because there were so many poems about good trustworthy horse friends, and a love of the land. It's clear that Banjo really had an affection for horses. Here's a snippet of the title poem, describing the game horse who saves the day and runs down the escaped colt of a famous racehorse:

And one was there, a stripling on a small and weedy beast,

He was something like a racehorse undersized,

With a touch of Timor pony — three parts thoroughbred at least —

And such as are by mountain horsemen prized.

There was courage in his quick impatient tread;

He was hard and tough and wiry — just the sort that won't say die —

And the proud and lofty carriage of his head.

And he bore the badge of gameness in his bright and fiery eye,