Banjo Paterson

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Clancy Of The Overflow Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGH IBJB CKLK IDID DMJM ININ IBDD

I had written him a letter which I had for want of betterA
Knowledge sent to where I met him down the Lachlan years agoB
He was shearing when I knew him so I sent the letter to himC
Just 'on spec' addressed as follows 'Clancy of The Overflow'D
And an answer came directed in a writing unexpectedE
And I think the same was written with a thumb nail dipped in tarF
Twas his shearing mate who wrote it and verbatim I will quote itG
'Clancy's gone to Queensland droving and we don't know where he are 'H
-
In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of ClancyI
Gone a droving 'down the Cooper' where the Western drovers goB
As the stock are slowly stringing Clancy rides behind them singingJ
For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never knowB
-
And the bush hath friends to meet him and their kindly voices greet himC
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its barsK
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extendedL
And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting starsK
-
I am sitting in my dingy little office where a stingyI
Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tallD
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty dirty cityI
Through the open window floating spreads its foulness over allD
-
And in place of lowing cattle I can hear the fiendish rattleD
Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the streetM
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fightingJ
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feetM
-
And the hurrying people daunt me and their pallid faces haunt meI
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous hasteN
With their eager eyes and greedy and their stunted forms and weedyI
For townsfolk have no time to grow they have no time to wasteN
-
And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with ClancyI
Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and goB
While he faced the round eternal of the cash book and the journalD
But I doubt he'd suit the office Clancy of 'The Overflow'D

Banjo Paterson



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Write your comment about Clancy Of The Overflow poem by Banjo Paterson

janet vaina: Looking out the window and searching for a ray of sunshine reminded me of this poem which I learned in primary school. How true it is, I think I'd like to be with Clancy too.
 

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