free-verse16 lines
Before We Were Married
by Henry LawsonBlacksoil plains were grey soil, grey soil in the drought.
Fifteen years away, and five hundred miles out;
Swag and bag and billy carried all our care
Before we were married, and I wish that I were there.
River banks were grassy, grassy in the bends,
Running through the land where mateship never ends;
We belled the lazy fishing lines and droned the time away
Before we were married, and I wish it were to-day.
Working down the telegraph, winters' gales and rains
Cross the tumbled scenery of Marlborough 'plains',
Beach and bluff and cook's tent, and the cook was a 'cow'
Before we were married, but I wish that it was now.
The rolling road to Melbourne, and grey-eyed girl in fur,
One arm to a stanchion, and one round her;
Seat abaft the skylight when the moon had set,
Before she was married, and I wish it wasn't yet.