Wide Spaces

By Henry Lawson

Ballad
    When my last long-beer has vanished and the truth is left unsaid;     When each sordid care is banished from my chair and from my bed,     And my common people sadly murmur: "'Arry Lawson dead,"     When the man I was denounces all the things that I was not,     When the true souls stand like granite, while the souls of liars not,     When the quids I gave are counted, and the trays I cadged forgot;     Shall my spirit see the country that it wrote for once again?     Shall it see the old selections, and the common street and lane?     Shall it pass across the Black Soil and across the Red Soil Plain?     Shall it see the gaunt Bushwoman "slave until she's fit to drop",     For the distant trip to Sydney, all depending on the crop?     Or the twinkling legs of kiddies, running to the lollie-shop?     Shall my spirit see the failures battling west and fighting here?     Shall it see the darkened shanty, or the bar-room dull and drear?     Shall it whisper to the landlord to give Bummer Smith a beer?     Will they let me out of Heaven, or Valhalla, on my own,     Or the Social Halls of Hades (where I shall not be alone),     Just to bring a breath of comfort to the hells that I have known?

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Ballads
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a contemplation of mortality, legacy, and afterlife through a distinctly common man's lens. The poet uses a conversational tone, intermingled with a melancholic yet defiant spirit, to muse on life's inevitable end and what follows. It is rich with themes of regret, memory, and a poignant yearning for life's simple pleasures.

The rhythmic structure and repetition of questions in the latter verses lend a sense of urgency and introspection. The use of specific and vivid imagery, such as the "old selections", "the gaunt Bushwoman", and "the lollie-shop", paint a highly personal picture of the poet's world, hinting at a strong connection to a rural, working-class background. Through this, the poet implicitly critiques societal disparities and the hardships of the common people.

The diction is colloquial and straightforward, reflecting the poet's identification with the common man. This is further emphasized by the repeated self-reference to "'Arry Lawson", representing an everyman figure. The poet also utilizes ironic humor in the contemplation of his posthumous journeys, juxtaposing religious and mythical realms like "Heaven" and "Valhalla" with "the Social Halls of Hades", suggesting a skepticism towards organized religions and an affinity for the more relatable, everyday 'hells'.

The poem is a striking exploration of life's ephemeral nature, the struggle between truth and deception, and the lingering influence one may have after death. It is a testament to the human condition, highlighting the resilience and endurance of the common man in the face of adversity.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.