ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

THE HEARTBEAT OF AUSTRALIA
©Neil McArthur 2010

I never knew my mother, she was absent at my birth,
‘Twas only chains and scurvy met my entrance to the Earth;
They carried me from ship to shore, and housed me in their souls,
And in return, I bore the beatings, chained unto the poles.

I roamed amongst the goldfields with my licences unpaid,
Near Free Trade Hill I backed them as the Traps rushed our stockade;
I helped a wounded Lalor walk when all his hopes seemed lost,
And blood seeped to the white stars of his hallowed Southern Cross.

I’ve had my bolder moments and have dared to play the lout,
I goaded on ‘The Breaker’ and with ‘Rangers’ knocked about;
But always for a reason that could justify an end,
Although at times I know it may be hard to comprehend.

I stood beside Ned Kelly, at Glenrowan on that day,
They shot him down and hanged him, it was ‘just’ some people say;
I stood beside the gallows, and I told him to die brave,
Then stood beside his mother, as they laid him in his grave.

I dared him down the mountainside, that Snowy River Man,
When flint sparks flew beneath the hoofs, his legend then began;
I left him to his business, when we briefly passed from view,
To wheel the wild horses round, as winds of rumour blew.

In Gallipoli, I pleaded with them not to join the din,
But who can rein the brave heart of a young Australian in?
I knelt beside their bodies, as their Spirits rose to prayer,
And cried a billabong of tears, as bullets split the air.

But brighter times, I’ve often seen; I’ve tamed a’many brat,
I taught Dawn Fraser how to swim, helped Bradman hold his bat;
I ran with our Olympic Flame, taught Lionel Rose to fight,
Helped heroes find their edge once more, and dragged them from their plight.

I’ve found a place to lay me out, I’m growing somewhat old,
This bush I scan reminds me of a tale I once told;
To a poet, name of Patterson, who asked me to incite
The spirit of Matilda into words for him to write.

‘Twas I who came from Ironbark; they called me Saltbush Bill,
I lit the lights of Cobb & Co. and cleared the One Tree Hill;
I rode Phar Lap to victory, and built the Harbour Bridge,
And dug the prized Black Opal from the dirt at Lightning Ridge.

And have I not met you before, some daunting, recent day,
When faced with great adversity, you called me to the fray?
I’m sure our paths have crossed before, and no doubt will again,
If not in life, then at Death’s knell, I’ll leave you not in vain.

You’ll find me if you need me, in the wild, thorny scrub,
Or under any Coolabah; in any outback pub;
On moonlit nights you’ll find me tramping by the Castlereagh,
Or riding ‘long beside you, I will be not far away.

I may be laying asphalt in the heat of Nullarbor,
Or serving in the Peace Corps in some country torn by war;
I could be hauling children from the wrath of Bondi’s surf,
Or driving home the ‘roughie’ on the sacred Cup day turf.

I’m the Heartbeat of Australia, the courage in your blood,
The Spirit which delivers you from fire, drought and flood;
I’m the Heartbeat of Australia, and we’ll never be apart,
For as sure as your Australian, I’m forever in your heart!

G/day Neil
A bit of history in this one mate, you've covered most of it.
A bit disappointed you missed the WA gold rushes, but guess a bloke can't be everywhere.

Enjoyed your poem Neil.

Terry

G/Day Neil from one ex Victorian to another very enjoyable mate

Really loved the poem - just wonderful

Glenny will get you for this faux pas One T in Paterson

Cheers

Maureen

No, I was talking about Frank Patterson.......................

Neil

Love it Neil, thanks for sharing

Sue

Noticed there are quite a few of Frank Pattersons books for sale on ebay if you might be interested.

keats wrote: I never knew my mother, she was absent at my birth,

Just to be my usual pain Neil what's that little coloured square up in the corner of the Australian flag. our mother has never been unknown or forgotten.

Just to be my usual pain Neil what's that little coloured square up in the corner of the Australian flag. our mother has never been unknown or forgotten.

You can read what you like and argue as you like with poetry, Neville, that is why we write. You are not being a pain querying anything in verse. Just my opinion. I feel England was far behind when the Spirit of Australia was born. She wanted nothing to do with it, which is why the founders of that spirit were shipped off. It grew to be independent of it's mother (except in the eyes of some dull old Monarchists who are scared to let go). But as usual, the British Empire demanded that some semblance of it's long gone 'world power' and international 'respect' remain on flags of the commonwealth (no longer with a capital C) countries.

Of course my opinion will be argued with, but, hey, I don't like blokes riding horses till they are covered in blood from hip to shoulder from the spur. But that is just my opinion.

Neil

You've covered a lot of years there Neil.

The first fleeters very nearly starved to death because Mother England was too busy fighting wars (with Napolean from memory) and had more important things to do than spare ships to send provisions. If it weren't for the timely arrival of the second fleet (which brought with it my ancestor ) they would have died of starvation.

England was considered "home" or the "old country" until after WW1.