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In this article, Chief Publisher from the boutique publishing company?Fine Poets, which publishes CDs of classic Australian poetry recorded by Aussie icon Jack Thompson, publishes a quote from the book that Henry Lawson’s wife Bertha wrote about their getting together. Here is Bertha talking about the poem “After All” that Henry wrote to convince Bertha to marry him: “Again we arranged to be married, if mother would agree. I felt sure she never would, but Harry was confidant of winning her over. In the meantime, being away from mother, I was free to go out with Harry without a chaperon. His poem won my heart, as it has thousands of readers hearts in the world; and knowing he had written it to me, was thrilling. Its opening lines are so grand: "This brooding ghosts of Australian night Have gone from the bush and town; My spirit revives in the morning breeze Though it died when the sun went down; The river is high and the stream is strong And the grass is green and tall, And I fain would think that this world of ours Is an good world after all. The light of passion in dreamy eyes And a page of truth well read, The glorious thrill in a heart grown cold Of the spirit I thought was dead, A sung that goes to a comrade's heart, And a tear of pride let fall And my soul is strong, and the world my dear Is a grand world after all. Rest, for your eyes are weary, girl You have driven the worst away The ghost of the man that I might have been Is gone from my heart to-day, We'll Iive for life and the best it brings Till our twilight shadows fall; My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, Is a good world, after all. We had happy times, in those days of our courtship, many outings and plenty of fun. A favourite trip of Harry's was to Folly Point on Middle Harbour, below the Suspension Bridge, leading to Northbridge, built by an English syndicate, which had bought all the land where Northbridge now is, and where I live.” Excerpt from My Henry Lawson by Bertha Lawson published in 1943. Jack Thompson’s reading of “After All” can be found on the CD The Poems of Henry Lawson. Jack Thompson has also recorded The Campfire Yarns of Henry Lawson which contains some of his may fabulous short stories. Fine Poets Pty Ltd
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Henry Lawson, The Poems of Henry Lawson, The Campfire Yarns of Henry Lawson,
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