'Sweeney' by Henry Lawson
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It was somewhere in September, and the sun was going down,
When I came, in search of `copy', to a Darling-River town;
`Come-and-have-a-drink' we'll call it -- 'tis a fitting name, I think --
And 'twas raining, for a wonder, up at Come-and-have-a-drink.
'Neath the public-house verandah I was resting on a bunk
When a stranger rose before me, and he said that he was drunk;
He apologised for speaking; there was no offence, he swore;
But he somehow seemed to fancy that he'd seen my face before.
`No erfence,' he said.I told him that he needn't mention it,
For I might have met him somewhere; I had travelled round a bit,
And I knew a lot of fellows in the bush and in the streets --
But a fellow can't remember all the fellows that he meets.
Very old and thin and dirty were the garments that he wore,
Just a shirt and pair of trousers, and a boot, and nothing more;
He was wringing-wet, and really in a sad and sinful plight,
And his hat was in his left hand, and a bottle in his right.
His brow was broad and roomy, but its lines were somewhat harsh,
And a sensual mouth was hidden by a drooping, fair moustache;
(His hairy chest was open to what poets call the `wined',
And I would have bet a thousand that his pants were gone behind).
He agreed:`Yer can't remember all the chaps yer chance to meet,'
And he said his name was Sweeney -- people lived in Sussex-street.
He was campin' in a stable, but he swore that he was right,
`Only for the blanky horses walkin' over him all night.'
He'd apparently been fighting, for his face was black-and-blue,
And he looked as though the horses had been treading on him, too;
But an honest, genial twinkle in the eye that wasn't hurt
Seemed to hint of something better, spite of drink and rags and dirt.
It appeared that he mistook me for a long-lost mate of his --
One of whom I was the image, both in figure and in phiz --
(He'd have had a letter from him if the chap were living still,
For they'd carried swags together from the Gulf to Broken Hill.)
Sweeney yarned awhile and hinted that his folks were doing well,
And he told me that his father kept the Southern Cross Hotel;
And I wondered if his absence was regarded as a loss
When he left the elder Sweeney -- landlord of the Southern Cross.
He was born in Parramatta, and he said, with humour grim,
That he'd like to see the city ere the liquor finished him,
But he couldn't raise the money.He was damned if he could think
What the Government was doing.Here he offered me a drink.
I declined -- 'TWAS self-denial -- and I lectured him on booze,
Using all the hackneyed arguments that preachers mostly use;
Things I'd heard in temperance lectures (I was young and rather green),
And I ended by referring to the man he might have been.
Then a wise expression struggled with the bruises on his face,
Though his argument had scarcely any bearing on the case:
`What's the good o' keepin' sober?Fellers rise and fellers fall;
What I might have been and wasn't doesn't trouble me at all.'
But he couldn't stay to argue, for his beer was nearly gone.
He was glad, he said, to meet me, and he'd see me later on;
He guessed he'd have to go and get his bottle filled again,
And he gave a lurch and vanished in the darkness and the rain.
.....
And of afternoons in cities, when the rain is on the land,
Visions come to me of Sweeney with his bottle in his hand,
With the stormy night behind him, and the pub verandah-post --
And I wonder why he haunts me more than any other ghost.
Still I see the shearers drinking at the township in the scrub,
And the army praying nightly at the door of every pub,
And the girls who flirt and giggle with the bushmen from the west --
But the memory of Sweeney overshadows all the rest.
Well, perhaps, it isn't funny; there were links between us two --
He had memories of cities, he had been a jackeroo;
And, perhaps, his face forewarned me of a face that I might see
From a bitter cup reflected in the wretched days to be.
.....
I suppose he's tramping somewhere where the bushmen carry swags,
Cadging round the wretched stations with his empty tucker-bags;
And I fancy that of evenings, when the track is growing dim,
What he `might have been and wasn't' comes along and troubles him.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sweeney: An In-Depth Analysis
As a literary work, poetry is an art form that is both beautiful and intriguing. It captures the imagination of the reader while provoking their emotions and thoughts. One such poem is "Sweeney" by Henry Lawson, an Australian poet. The poem tells the story of a bushman named Sweeney who has lost his mind after spending years in isolation in the Australian outback. The poem is an excellent example of Lawson's signature style of bush poetry, which captures the Australian landscape and the people who inhabit it. In this article, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and interpretations of "Sweeney."
The Themes of Sweeney
The first theme that emerges in "Sweeney" is isolation. Sweeney has been living alone in the outback for years, and the experience has taken a toll on his mental health. The poem shows how isolation can lead to madness and how it can be challenging to reintegrate into society after living alone for so long. Sweeney's madness is illustrated in the poem's opening lines, "Out in the wastes of the Never-Never, / That's where the dead men lie!" (lines 1-2). These lines suggest that Sweeney has been living in a desolate and unforgiving place, where even death seems preferable to life.
The second theme in "Sweeney" is the struggle between civilization and the natural world. Sweeney has been living in the outback, where nature reigns supreme. However, civilization's encroachment can be seen in the poem's closing lines, "But the railway follows the river, and the steam ploughs are moving west; / They've cleared the ranges and fenced the creeks, and the scrubs are all taking a rest" (lines 45-46). These lines show how civilization is slowly taking over the Australian landscape and how the bushman's way of life is disappearing.
The third theme in "Sweeney" is the struggle for survival. The outback is a harsh and unforgiving place, and Sweeney has had to fight for his survival. The poem's opening lines, "Out in the wastes of the Never-Never, / That's where the dead men lie!" (lines 1-2), suggest that Sweeney has faced many challenges and that he has seen many men die. The poem also shows how the bushman's way of life is becoming increasingly difficult as civilization encroaches on the outback. The closing lines of the poem, "They've cleared the ranges and fenced the creeks, and the scrubs are all taking a rest" (lines 45-46), suggest that the bushman's way of life is disappearing, and that survival in the outback is becoming increasingly difficult.
Literary Devices in Sweeney
The first literary device that stands out in "Sweeney" is the use of repetition. The opening lines of the poem are repeated at the beginning of each stanza: "Out in the wastes of the Never-Never, / That's where the dead men lie!" (lines 1-2). This repetition creates a haunting and eerie tone, suggesting that Sweeney's madness has taken over his mind.
The second literary device is alliteration. The poem is full of alliterative phrases like "sorrowful song" (line 6), "cruel country" (line 11), and "wild, weird west" (line 36). These alliterative phrases create a musical quality to the poem and make it more memorable.
The third literary device is imagery, which is used to create vivid descriptions of the Australian outback. For example, the line "The air was heavy with a strange perfume" (line 10) creates a vivid sensory image of the Australian bush.
Interpretations of Sweeney
One interpretation of "Sweeney" is that it is a commentary on the effects of isolation on the human mind. Sweeney has been living alone in the outback for years, and his isolation has led to his madness. The poem shows how isolation can be dangerous and how it can change a person's psyche.
Another interpretation of "Sweeney" is that it is a commentary on the struggle between civilization and the natural world. The poem shows how civilization is encroaching on the outback, and how the bushman's way of life is disappearing. The closing lines of the poem, "They've cleared the ranges and fenced the creeks, and the scrubs are all taking a rest" (lines 45-46), suggest that the natural world is being destroyed by civilization.
A third interpretation of "Sweeney" is that it is a commentary on the struggle for survival. The poem shows how the outback is a harsh and unforgiving place, and how survival in the bush is becoming increasingly difficult. The closing lines of the poem, "They've cleared the ranges and fenced the creeks, and the scrubs are all taking a rest" (lines 45-46), suggest that the bushman's way of life is disappearing, and that survival in the outback is becoming increasingly difficult.
Conclusion
"Sweeney" is a haunting and beautiful poem that captures the Australian landscape and the people who inhabit it. The themes of isolation, the struggle between civilization and the natural world, and the struggle for survival are all present in the poem. Literary devices such as repetition, alliteration, and imagery are used to create a vivid and memorable poem. Overall, "Sweeney" is a powerful and thought-provoking work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Sweeney: A Masterpiece of Australian Literature
Henry Lawson, one of the most celebrated Australian writers, is known for his unique style of writing that captures the essence of the Australian bush and its people. His poem, Poetry Sweeney, is a masterpiece that showcases his exceptional talent as a poet and his deep understanding of the Australian way of life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, highlighting its themes, literary devices, and historical context.
The poem, Poetry Sweeney, is a narrative that tells the story of a bush poet named Sweeney, who is struggling to make a living from his poetry. The poem is set in the Australian bush, where Sweeney lives a solitary life, wandering from place to place, reciting his poems to anyone who will listen. The poem is written in the first person, with Sweeney as the narrator, which gives the reader a sense of intimacy with the character and his struggles.
The poem is divided into three parts, each of which tells a different aspect of Sweeney's life. The first part introduces Sweeney and his poetry, describing his passion for the art and his struggles to make a living from it. The second part tells the story of Sweeney's encounter with a wealthy squatter, who offers him a job as a sheep-shearer. The third and final part of the poem describes Sweeney's return to the bush and his eventual death.
One of the main themes of the poem is the struggle of the artist in a society that does not value art. Sweeney is a talented poet, but he is unable to make a living from his art. He is forced to wander from place to place, reciting his poems to anyone who will listen, in the hope of earning a few coins. The poem highlights the harsh reality of life for artists in Australia, where the value of art is often overlooked in favor of more practical pursuits.
Another important theme of the poem is the conflict between the bush and the city. Sweeney is a bush poet, who feels most at home in the Australian bush. However, he is forced to venture into the city in search of work, where he is confronted with a world that is alien to him. The poem highlights the tension between the two worlds and the difficulty of reconciling them.
The poem is also rich in literary devices, which add depth and complexity to the narrative. One of the most striking literary devices used in the poem is the use of dialect. Sweeney speaks in a distinct Australian dialect, which gives the poem a sense of authenticity and realism. The use of dialect also highlights the cultural differences between the bush and the city, and the difficulty of communication between the two worlds.
Another important literary device used in the poem is symbolism. The poem is full of symbols that represent different aspects of Australian life. For example, the sheep-shearing shed represents the harsh reality of life for many Australians, who are forced to work long hours in difficult conditions. The bush represents the freedom and independence that many Australians value, while the city represents the constraints and limitations of modern life.
The historical context of the poem is also important in understanding its meaning and significance. The poem was written in the late 19th century, a time when Australia was undergoing significant social and economic changes. The country was transitioning from a rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial one. The poem reflects this transition, highlighting the tension between the traditional way of life in the bush and the new, modern world of the city.
In conclusion, Poetry Sweeney is a masterpiece of Australian literature that captures the essence of the Australian bush and its people. The poem is a powerful commentary on the struggle of the artist in a society that does not value art, the tension between the bush and the city, and the challenges of life in a rapidly changing world. The poem is rich in literary devices, which add depth and complexity to the narrative, and its historical context gives it a deeper meaning and significance. Henry Lawson's Poetry Sweeney is a true masterpiece that deserves to be celebrated and studied for generations to come.
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