THE WORKS OF ‘BANJO’ PATERSON
Wordsworth Poetry Library Wordsworth Editions
£3.99
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Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson was a famous Australian bush poet,
journalist and author. He wrote many ballads and poems about Australian life, particularly
about the outback and the characters he met along the way. He is most notable
for writing the poem "Waltzing Matilda” which has become, albeit with
altered wording, Australia’s most famous song. This excellent Wordsworth edition brings together
three ‘Banjo’ collections – “The Man From Snowy River and Other Verses”; “Rio
Grande and Other Verses”; "Saltbush Bill, J.P., and Other Verses" (including "Waltzing Matilda"). He died, aged 76, in 1941.
His epic ballads are here with their heroes and rogues, the brave, the pitiful, the chancers, the winners and losers, and the blood, sweat and tears of working men. The wild Australian terrain features strongly thoughout the book and from descriptions you can feel the heat and almost choke on the dust. There is so much to enjoy and I will highlight just a few examples to illustrate his different moods.
“Only A Jockey” tells the story of a fourteen
year old, thrown from his horse and killed while training. It is noted that a newspaper said: “The
horse is luckily uninjured”. Paterson unleashes a poem filled with anger and
disgust that the boy was less important than the animal. It is very powerful: “Draw the dark
curtain of shame o’er the thought of it/draw the shroud over the jockey-boy’s
face.” Desperately sad.
“Mulga Bill’s Bicycle” is a very funny tale
of a man who decides to abandon his horse in favour of a bicycle. He soon comes a cropper on “that
two-wheeled outlaw” and decides, after an accident, that “a horse’s back is
good enough.” Hilarious.
“Sunrise On The Coast” carries a lovely
description of early morning: “And lo, there is light! Evanescent and tender/it
glows ruby-red where ‘twas now ashen-grey/and purple and scarlet and gold in
its splendour/behold, ‘tis that marvel, the birth of a day!” Beautiful.
This is poetry as pure entertainment to be
read out loud, to stir emotions and imaginations. If you know ‘Banjo’ Paterson’s work, this is a great opportunity to rekindle your
interest. If you don’t know him,
you are in for a treat……but only if you buy the book.
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