'My Country' is an iconic Australian poem which romantically calls up images of the distinctive landscape and the strong sense of belonging that was felt by the poet. It is one of the best-known poems in Australia and many Australians feel that it captures the essence of the country and the inhabitants' feelings towards the driest continent on Earth. Dorothea Mackellar has said that she wrote this poem whilst on holidays in England after hearing some local English people comparing the two countries to the disadvantage of Australia. She felt so "mad" that she sat down and wrote this poem. (Biographical details see http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100291b.htm)
'My Country'
The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens
Is running in your veins,
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies --
I know but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.
I love sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of rugged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror --
The wide brown land for me!
The stark white ring barked forests
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at hear, around us,
We see the cattle die --
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold --
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze ...
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful lavish land--
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand --
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Most of 8enr really enjoyed this poem. They liked the fact it rhymed which they felt gave it a better rhythm when it was read. Although the poem was long, they found it interesting. They thought it made Australia sound like a place they would like to visit.
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