A Cento honoring the Work of Henry Lawson.
We, as steadfast as could be seen,
Soldiers around the campfire ring.
With mighty “Blood and Fire”* unfurled,
Going to the corners of the world.
Banging drum we charged to work,
No daily tasks left overlooked,
Into the trenches, Let us sing,
Salvation to this land we bring.
Ah, we never reckoned much,
Caring for others and such,
Our world never looked so blue,
Seeing the orphans and widows, too,
Fighting friends on the attack
Crawling behind each other’s back
Scattered far north, east and west,
Only the bravest and the best.
We have driven the worst away
Ghosts are gone from our land today,
Best of life as shadows fall
The world is good now after all.
*Blood and Fire” refers to the flag of the Salvation Army.
Poems by Henry Lawson
Booth’s Drum (stanzas 1, 2,3)
Bourke (stanza 4)
After All (stanza 5)