Author: Henry Lawson

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    When the kindly hours of darkness, save for light of moon and star,
    Hide the picture on the signboard over Doughty's Horse Bazaar;
    When the last rose-tint is fading on the distant mulga scrub,
    Then the Army prays for Watty at the entrance of his pub.

    Now, I often sit at Watty's when the night is very near,
    With a head that's full of jingles and the fumes of bottled beer,
    For I always have a fancy that, if I am over there
    When the Army prays for Watty, I'm included in the prayer.

    Watty lounges in his arm-chair, in its old accustomed place,
    With a fatherly expression on his round and passive face;
    And his arms are clasped before him in a calm, contented way,
    And he nods his head and dozes when he hears the Army pray.

    And I wonder does he ponder on the distant years and dim,
    Or his chances over yonder, when the Army prays for him?
    Has he not a fear connected with the warm place down below,
    Where, according to good Christians, all the publicans should go?

    But his features give no token of a feeling in his breast,
    Save of peace that is unbroken and a conscience well at rest;
    And we guzzle as we guzzled long before the Army came,
    And the loafers wait for `shouters' and, they get there just the same.

    It would take a lot of praying, lots of thumping on the drum,
    To prepare our sinful, straying, erring souls for Kingdom Come;
    But I love my fellow-sinners, and I hope, upon the whole,
    That the Army gets a hearing when it prays for Watty's soul.

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Type of Poem: Narrative Poem

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem offers a tender and humorous exploration of faith, community, and redemption set in a uniquely Australian context. The poem is structured in seven quatrains with a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme, which lends a rhythmic, song-like quality to the narrative, further enhancing the storytelling aspect.

The narrative unfolds in Watty's pub, a communal space where the mundane and the spiritual intersect. The poet uses vivid imagery, "the kindly hours of darkness", "light of moon and star", "the distant mulga scrub" to enrich the mood of the scene and ground the narrative in a specific, tangible environment. The recurring motif of the Salvation Army praying for Watty and his patrons serves as an ironic counterpoint to the revelry taking place inside the pub; it shows the poet's ability to intertwine the themes of daily life, sin, and forgiveness in a playful yet poignant way.

The tone of the poem is light-hearted, yet there's an underlying seriousness, especially regarding the questions of morality and afterlife. The poet uses humor and sarcasm ("where, according to good Christians, all the publicans should go?") to question societal norms and prejudices. The poem ends on a hopeful note, suggesting a sense of camaraderie and shared humanity, rather than judgement and division. The poet seems to imply that ordinary moments, like a night at the pub, carry their own kind of sanctity, and that redemption may be found in the most unexpected places.