A B Banjo Paterson: Все стихи поэта

Все стихи Оригиналы Переводы

« ‹ 1 2 3 4 5 › »

In the Droving Days

"Only a pound," said the auctioneer,

"Only a pound; and I'm standing here

Selling this animal, gain or loss —

Only a pound for the drover's horse?

One of the sort that was ne'er afraid,

One of the boys of the Old Brigade;

Thoroughly honest and game, I'll swear,

Only a little the worse for wear;

by A B Banjo Paterson

Book Contents: The Animals Noah Forgot:Banjo Paterson

‘The Animals Noah Forgot’ A. B. 'Banjo' Paterson

A wonderful look at some of the strange, wonderful animals in Australia - images attached where possible.

Foreword

The big white English swan, escaped from captivity, found himself swimming in an Australian waterhole fringed with giant gumtrees. In one of the lower forks of a gumtree sat a placid round-eyed elderly gentleman apparently thinking of nothing whatever--in other words, a native bear.

"Excuse me, sir," said the swan, "can you tell me where I am?"

"Why, you're here," said the bear.

"I know I'm here," said the swan, thinking his new acquaintance was dull-witted; "but where is 'here'? You see, I'm an English swan"--

by A B Banjo Paterson

The Geebung Polo Club

It was somewhere up the country, in a land of rock and scrub,

That they formed an institution called the Geebung Polo Club.

They were long and wiry natives from the rugged mountain side,

And the horse was never saddled that the Geebungs couldn't ride;

But their style of playing polo was irregular and rash —

They had mighty little science, but a mighty lot of dash:

And they played on mountain ponies that were muscular and strong,

Though their coats were quite unpolished,

by A B Banjo Paterson

In Defence of the Bush

So you're back from up the country, Mister Lawson, where you went,

And you're cursing all the business in a bitter discontent;

Well, we grieve to disappoint you, and it makes us sad to hear

That it wasn't cool and shady — and there wasn't whips of beer,

And the looney bullock snorted when you first came into view —

Well, you know it's not so often that he sees a swell like you;

And the roads were hot and dusty, and the plains were burnt and brown,

And no doubt you're better suited drinking lemon-squash in town.

by A B Banjo Paterson

High Explosive

'Twas the dingo pup to his dam that said,

"It's time I worked for my daily bread.

Out in the world I intend to go,

And you'd be surprised at the things I know.

"There's a wild duck's nest in a sheltered spot,

And I'll go right down and I'll eat the lot."

But when he got to his destined prey

He found that the ducks had flown away.

by A B Banjo Paterson

Lost

"He ought to be home," said the old man, "without there's something amiss.

He only went to the Two-mile — he ought to be back by this.

He would ride the Reckless filly, he would have his wilful way;

And, here, he's not back at sundown — and what will his mother say?

"He was always his mother's idol, since ever his father died;

And there isn't a horse on the station that he isn't game to ride.

But that Reckless mare is vicious, and if once she gets away

He hasn't got strength to hold her — and what will his mother say?"

by A B Banjo Paterson

As Long as your Eyes are Blue

Wilt thou love me, sweet, when my hair is grey

And my cheeks shall have lost their hue?

When the charms of youth shall have passed away,

Will your love as of old prove true?

For the looks may change, and the heart may range,

And the love be no longer fond;

Wilt thou love with truth in the years of youth

And away to the years beyond?

by A B Banjo Paterson

Clancy of the Overflow

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better

Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,

He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,

Just "on spec", addressed as follows, "Clancy, of The Overflow".

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected,

(And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar)

Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it:

"Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are."

by A B Banjo Paterson

Mulga Bill's Bicycle

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze;

He turned away the good old horse that served him many days;

He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen;

He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine;

And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride,

The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?"

"See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea,

From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me.

by A B Banjo Paterson

Waltzing Matilda

Oh there once was a swagman camped in the billabong,

Under the shade of a Coolabah tree;

And he sang as he looked at his old billy boiling

"Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me."

Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda, my darling.

Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda and leading a water-bag —

Who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

by A B Banjo Paterson

'We're All Australians Now'

Australia takes her pen in hand

To write a line to you,

To let you fellows understand

How proud we are of you.

From shearing shed and cattle run,

From Broome to Hobson's Bay,

Each native-born Australian son

Stands straighter up today.

by A B Banjo Paterson

A Bush Christening

On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,

And men of religion are scanty,

On a road never cross'd 'cept by folk that are lost,

One Michael Magee had a shanty.

Now this Mike was the dad of a ten year old lad,

Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;

He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest

For the youngster had never been christened.

by A B Banjo Paterson