Author: Henry Lawson

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    The lovely Port of Sydney
    Lies laughing to the sky,
    The bonny Port of Sydney,
    Where the ships of nations lie.
    You shall never see such beauty,
    Though you sail the wide world oer,
    As the sunny Port of Sydney,
    As we see it from the Shore.

    The shades of night are falling
    On many ports of call,
    But the harbour lights of Sydney
    Are the grandest of them all;
    Such a city set in jewels
    Has neer been seen before
    As the harbour lights of Sydney
    As we see them from the Shore.

    I must sail for gloomy London,
    Where there are no harbour lights,
    Where no sun is seen in winter,
    And there are no starry nights;
    And the bonny port of Sydney,
    I may never see it more,
    But Ill always dream about it
    As we view it from North Shore.

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem vividly paints a portrait of Sydney's port, illustrating the beauty and charm of the city through evocative language and potent imagery. The recurring theme centers around an intense admiration for Sydney and a sense of longing for its beauty, juxtaposed against the speaker's impending departure for gloomy London. The tone is one of both appreciation for the present and melancholic nostalgia for a place the speaker is yet to leave.

The poem employs a simple but effective rhymed quatrain structure, creating a rhythmic and melodic flow that enhances its emotive impact. The repetition of phrases such as "the bonny Port of Sydney" and "as we see it from the Shore" adds to the nostalgic tone, emphasizing the speaker's deep emotional connection to the place. Imagery is the standout literary device, with the contrast between Sydney's harbor lights and London's starless nights, and the comparison of the city set in jewels, showcasing the poet's skill in creating vivid mental pictures. Through these images, the reader is made to feel the warmth, vibrancy, and allure of Sydney, while London is portrayed as bleak and uninviting. The poem, thus, offers a rich exploration of place, memory, and longing, wrapped in a simple yet emotionally resonant structure.