Middleton's Rouseabout

By Henry Lawson

Born 6/17/1867


Tall and freckled and sandy,
         Face of a country lout;
This was the picture of Andy,
         Middleton's Rouseabout.

Type of a coming nation,
         In the land of cattle and sheep,
Worked on Middleton's station,
         "Pound a week and his keep."

On Middleton's wide dominions
         Plied the stockwhip and shears;
Hadn't any opinions,
         Hadn't any "idears".

Swiftly the years went over,
         Liquor and drought prevailed;
Middleton went as a drover,
         After his station had failed.

Type of a careless nation,
         Men who are soon played out,
Middleton was: -- and his station
         Was bought by the Rouseabout.

Flourishing beard and sandy,
         Tall and robust and stout;
This is the picture of Andy,
         Middleton's Rouseabout.

Now on his own dominions
         Works with his overseers;
Hasn't any opinions,
         Hasn't any "idears".

DayPoems Poem No. 944
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/944.html">Middleton's Rouseabout by Henry Lawson</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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