Bannerman of Dandenong
I rode through the Bush in the burning noon,
Over the hills to my bride, —
The track was rough and the way was long,
And Bannerman of the Dandenong,
He rode along by my side.
A day's march off my Beautiful dwelt,
By the Murray streams in the West; —
Lightly lilting a gay love-song
Rode Bannerman of the Dandenong,
With a blood-red rose on his breast.
"Red, red rose of the Western streams"
Was the song he sang that day —
Truest comrade in hour of need, —
Bay Mathinna his peerless steed —
I had my own good grey.
There fell a spark on the upland grass —
The dry Bush leapt into flame; —
And I felt my heart go cold as death,
And Bannerman smiled and caught his breath, —
But I heard him name Her name.
Down the hill-side the fire-floods rushed,
On the roaring eastern wind; —
Neck and neck was the reckless race, —
Ever the bay mare kept her pace,
But the grey horse dropped behind.
He turned in the saddle — "Let's change, I say!"
And his bridle rein he drew.
He sprang to the ground, — "Look sharp!" he said
With a backward toss of his curly head —
"I ride lighter than you!"
Down and up — it was quickly done —
No words to waste that day! —
Swift as a swallow she sped along,
The good bay mare from Dandenong, —
And Bannerman rode the grey.
The hot air scorched like a furnace blast
From the very mouth of Hell: —
The blue gums caught and blazed on high
Like flaming pillars into the sky; . . .
The grey horse staggered and fell.
"Ride, ride, lad, — ride for her sake!" he cried; —
Into the gulf of flame
Were swept, in less than a breathing space
The laughing eyes, and the comely face,
And the lips that named HER name.
She bore me bravely, the good bay mare; —
Stunned, and dizzy and blind,
I heard the sound of a mingling roar —
'Twas the Lachlan River that rushed before,
And the flames that rolled behind.
Safe — safe, at Nammoora gate,
I fell, and lay like a stone.
O love! thine arms were about me then,
Thy warm tears called me to life again, —
But — O God! that I came alone! —
We dwell in peace, my beautiful one
And I, by the streams in the West, —
But oft through the mist of my dreams along
Rides Bannerman of the Dandenong,
With the blood-red rose on his breast.
This work is in the public domain in Australia because it was created in Australia and the term of copyright has expired. According to Australian Copyright Council - Duration of Copyright, the following works are public domain:
- published non-government works whose author died before January 1, 1955,
- anonymous or pseudonymous works and photographs published before January 1, 1955, and
- government works published more than 50 years ago (before January 1, 1974).
This work is also in the public domain in the United States because it was first published outside the United States (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days), and it was first published before 1989 without complying with U.S. copyright formalities (renewal and/or copyright notice) and it was in the public domain in Australia on the URAA date (January 1, 1996). This is the combined effect of Australia having joined the Berne Convention in 1928, and of 17 USC 104A with its critical date of January 1, 1996.
Because the Australian copyright term in 1996 was 50 years, the critical date for copyright in the United States under the URAA is January 1, 1946.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1935, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 88 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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