Poem by Henry Lawson

As far as Your Rifles Cover

Do you think, you slaves of a thousand years to poverty, wealth and pride, 
You can crush the spirit that has been free in a land that’s new and wide? 
When you’ve scattered the last of the farmer bands, and the war for a while is over, 
You will hold the land – ay, you’ll hold the land – the land that your rifles cover. 

Till your gold has levelled each mountain range where a wounded man can hide, 
Till your gold has lighted the moonless night on the plains where the rebels ride; 
Till the future is proved, and the past is bribed from the son of the land’s dead lover – 
You may hold the land – you may hold the land just as far as your rifles cover.

1. The Drunkard's Vision
2. 'Tambaroora Jim'
3. The Rovers
4. Kangaroo Power
5. Here Died

Print

1113 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version