Marisawright Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 I think we're all familiar with "I Love a Sunburnt Country", but I had never seen the verse that comes before the famous one. Pretty much sums up the feelings of some PIO'ers one way or the other: The love of field and coppice, Of green and shaded lanes. Of ordered woods and gardens Is running in your veins, Strong love of grey-blue distance Brown streams and soft dim skies I know but cannot share it, My love is otherwise. I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her beauty and her terror – The wide brown land for me! Dorothea McKellar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristolman Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Yes the first verse does it for me. Quite honestly a sunburnt country hold very little appeal for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JockinTas Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 Probably why I feel I 'belong' where I am now ....................... I'm talking about the first verse. Coincidently, I was out walking in the mizzle and drizzle this afternoon listening to the waves crashing on the rocks and everywhere smelt fresh and clean and (I know it sounds corny) I just felt a surge of happiness being where I 'belong'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 As far as i remember (couldnt be bothered googling) She left australia as a youngster and lived in england the rest of her life, She wrote this near the end of her life. Its strange that different ages learnt different verses at school. My mum learnt 2,3,5,6, i learnt 2,3,4,6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickyNook Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) As far as i remember (couldnt be bothered googling) She left australia as a youngster and lived in england the rest of her life, She wrote this near the end of her life. Not quite! She wrote it when she was 19 and on a visit to England with her family. She travelled a lot with her father but always lived in Australia. She built her famous house on Pittwater in 1925 and died in Paddington, Sydney in 1968. :yes: You might be thinking of PL Travers who did leave Australia when young and never returned. Edited May 9, 2016 by NickyNook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 The first time I read that poem was when we had been here about 6 months. It brought me to tears. Says it all for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marisawright Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 Its strange that different ages learnt different verses at school. My mum learnt 2,3,5,6, i learnt 2,3,4,6. I didn't learn it at school but I had never seen that first verse quoted anywhere. Strange that everyone seems to have decided to dump it, when in fact it's the whole point of the poem - comparing the fact that some love the soft scenery of England whereas she loves the harshness of the Australian landscape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 My version (don't take seriously) I dislike a sunburnt country, a land of nothing but sand lots of jerry built houses in suburbs that were bland I hated her far apart boozers, and shark infested sea you've entered early retirement when you're only 33 !! johngdownuder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 I didn't learn it at school but I had never seen that first verse quoted anywhere. Strange that everyone seems to have decided to dump it, when in fact it's the whole point of the poem - comparing the fact that some love the soft scenery of England whereas she loves the harshness of the Australian landscape. I guess alot of Aussies felt it wasnt necessary. And i tend to agree. Most residents of Australia were born either here or somewhere else in the world other than England, So the first verse wouldn't make much sense to the majority, as it would not be an image they could relate to. Until i had lived there, i wouldnt have understood it either. Thus, focussing on the main part of the poem, rather than the intro, it sums up australia pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjg Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Not quite! She wrote it when she was 19 and on a visit to England with her family. She travelled a lot with her father but always lived in Australia. She built her famous house on Pittwater in 1925 and died in Paddington, Sydney in 1968. :yes: You might be thinking of PL Travers who did leave Australia when young and never returned. I stand corrected. Should have googled. 100% wrong on every statement :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pommy Jimbo Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Well I was brought up on Marmite but I'm learning to like Vegemite. Still prefer Marmite though if I'm honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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