Author: Banjo Paterson (Andrew Barton)

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Australia takes her pen in hand
To write a line to you,
To let you fellows understand
How proud we are of you.

From shearing shed and cattle run,
From Broome to Hobson's Bay,
Each native-born Australian son
Stands straighter up today.

The man who used to "hump his drum",
On far-out Queensland runs
Is fighting side by side with some
Tasmanian farmer's sons.

The fisher-boys dropped sail and oar
To grimly stand the test,
Along that storm-swept Turkish shore,
With miners from the west.

The old state jealousies of yore
Are dead as Pharaoh's sow,
We're not State children any more,
We're all Australians now!

Our six-starred flag that used to fly
Half-shyly to the breeze,
Unknown where older nations ply
Their trade on foreign seas,

Flies out to meet the morning blue
With Vict'ry at the prow;
For that's the flag the Sydney flew,
The wide seas know it now!

The mettle that a race can show
Is proved with shot and steel,
And now we know what nations know
And feel what nations feel.

The honoured graves beneath the crest
Of Gaba Tepe hill
May hold our bravest and our best,
But we have brave men still.

With all our petty quarrels done,
Dissensions overthrown,
We have, through what you boys have done,
A history of our own.

Our old world diff'rences are dead,
Like weeds beneath the plough,
For English, Scotch, and Irish-bred,
They're all Australians now!

So now we'll toast the Third Brigade
That led Australia's van,
For never shall their glory fade
In minds Australian.

Fight on, fight on, unflinchingly,
Till right and justice reign.
Fight on, fight on, till Victory
Shall send you home again.

And with Australia's flag shall fly
A spray of wattle-bough
To symbolise our unity,
We're all Australians now.

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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 is a stirring piece of patriotic verse that explores the theme of national unity, pride, and the forging of a national identity during a time of war. The tone is one of optimism and resilience, celebrating the diverse backgrounds of Australia's people coming together to face a common foe.

The structure, featuring a consistent rhyme scheme and regular meter, creates a rhythm that echoes the march of soldiers, emphasizing the poem's martial theme. The poet uses geographical references, from "Broome to Hobson's Bay," as a way to underline the breadth of the country and the diversity of its people. The repetition of the phrase "We're all Australians now!" acts as a refrain, reinforcing the theme of unity and shared identity.

One notable literary device employed is the use of vivid, often rural, imagery to depict Australia's diverse landscapes and people. This not only gives a sense of the country's vastness, but also highlights the wide range of individuals who have come together in defense of their homeland. The poem also utilizes metaphor, such as "Our old world diff'rences are dead, Like weeds beneath the plough," to illustrate the erasure of past divisions in the face of solidarity.

Overall, the poem is a powerful testament to the strength of unity during challenging times and the pride that emerges when a nation stands together.