Analysis of When the Bush Begins to Speak
Henry Lawson 1867 (Grenfell) – 1922 (Sydney)
They know us not in England yet, their pens are overbold;
We're seen in fancy pictures that are fifty years too old.
They think we are a careless race - a childish race, and weak;
They'll know us yet in England, when the bush begins to speak;
When the bush begins to speak,
When the bush begins to speak,
When the west by Greed's invaded, and the bush begins to speak.
'The leaders that will be', the men of southern destiny,
Are not all found in cities that are builded by the sea;
They learn to love Australia by many a western creek,
They'll know them yet in England, when the bush begins to speak;
When the bush begins to speak,
When the bush begins to speak,
When the west by Greed's invaded, and the bush begins to speak.
All ready for the struggle, and waiting for the change,
The army of our future lies encamped beyond the range;
Australia, for her patriots, will not have far to seek;
They'll know her yet in England when the bush begins to speak;
When the bush begins to speak,
When the bush begins to speak,
When the west by Greed's invaded, and the bush begins to speak.
We'll find the peace and comfort that our fathers could not find,
Or some shall strike the good old blow that leaves a mark behind.
We'll find the Truth and Liberty our fathers came to seek,
Or let them know in England when the bush begins to speak;
When the bush begins to speak,
When the bush begins to speak,
When the west by Greed's invaded, and the bush begins to speak.
Scheme | aabbBBB ccbbBBB ddbbBBB aabbBBB |
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Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111101011111 11010101110111 11110101010101 11110101010111 1010111 1010111 101110100010111 01011101110100 1111010111101 11110101100101 11110101010111 1010111 1010111 101110100010111 1101010010101 010110101010101 01010100111111 11010101010111 1010111 1010111 101110100010111 110101011010111 11110111110101 110101001010111 11110101010111 1010111 1010111 101110100010111 |
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 1,440 |
Words | 279 |
Sentences | 7 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 7, 7, 7, 7 |
Lines Amount | 28 |
Letters per line (avg) | 40 |
Words per line (avg) | 10 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 283 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 69 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:26 min read
- 128 Views
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"When the Bush Begins to Speak" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/18179/when-the-bush-begins-to-speak>.
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