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!
A stark white ring-barked forest
All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes,
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the warm dark soil.
Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart, around us,
We see the cattle die -
But then the grey clouds gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold -
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land -
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand -
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly.
Notes
This cherished timeless poem speaks to the core of the Australian heart with its line "I love a sunburnt country".
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 42 of 42
-
Core of my heart
From guest Sam (contact)
I started rural primary school in 1951 and this was the first poem we were taught and the class recited it happily; we were Australians; each friday we would have school assembly and take the oath to honour the Australian flag, sing The Song of Australia followed by the British national anthem; no-one had an identity crisis that I can recall; this poem has stayed with me and indeed brings tears to my eyes; it is heartening to read the positive comments submitted here by some who simply acknowledge the poem's pure simplicity. -
From guest cherrylv (contact)
A beautiful poem and I'm sure that to truly appreciate its beauty you have to experience first hand this amazing country. As a Brit who has never had the opportunity to do this and probably never will this lovely poem at least gives me a veiw that I can dream of.
Cherry 
xxx
-
-
An Aussie away from home
From guest Rob Grealy (contact)
If like me, you've been overseas for a long time (UK - 11 years now), this poem by the amazing Ms Mackellar, I stil call Australia home by Peter Allan (and Qantas of course) and The Man From Snowy River ("He sent the flint-stones flying, but the pony kept his feet ..." is in my opinion awe inspiring) by Banjo Patterson bring tears to the eyes of a Far North Queenslander
I would say it doesn't just pull at your heart strings, it rips them out and leaves you forlorn ...
Thanks for posting Ms Mackellar's poetry, I'm teaching my son and daughter (both born in the UK - ages 6 and 4) about Australia and these are my main teaching methods (nothing like the Loaded Dog by Henry Lawson for inspiration 
.
Taking them to Oz to see my 3 brothers at Easter 2010, can't wait ...
Have a great rest of the year everyone ...
-
Better
From guest Luca (contact)
This iz the best poem i've ever read besides robert frost ones! ^_^ -
-
More than a poem
From guest Lili Armitage (contact)
Dorothea captured something truely wonderful with this poem, she brought all the words of love and beauty for one single thing and put them in a poem for such a great purpose. Down to the very last word. this poem is 100% Australian.. Good work Dorothea
-
From guest isabel browne (contact)
from isabel browne i love this poem it explains our countries pride, so so well ,just perfect -
nice one. :)
From guest dana joy (contact)
the poem is good. and its too long to read but its nice and beautiful. that's ol.
-
My Great Aunts Funeral
From guest John Finnie (contact)
My Aunt Dorrie loved this poem and I will be reading it at her Funeral Service on Friday 27th June 2009. God Bless her. -
my my
From guest vicki (contact)
Just this last weekend, I was reciting this wonderful poem to American friends. We were relaxing in the cool clear waters of a Florida lake drinking a beer. Australia seemed a long way away till the words of the poem brought on a flood of memories. Always remember the 2nd stanza and thought it time to re-learn the rest of it. Thanks for posting it. -
So beautiful
From guest Sarah (contact)
What a beautiful poem! Dorothea Mackellar had such talent. I absolutely adore this!
-
Hi
From guest Saloni (contact)
The song inspires alot of us. I was also looking for a song called down under in australia. If you know please contact.
MOD MESSAGE
Do you mean that is the title or the first line?
You could try:- http://www.songsforteaching.com/jimrule/loveislikeaboomerang.htm -
-
Glorious
From guest Ruth Grimes (contact)
Proud, happy and victorious my mokopunas are growing up free in "The Sunburnt Country." -
I have always loved this poem
-
Songs about Australia
From guest Leith Daly (contact)
"Ragged mountain ranges" I seem to remember from 50+ years ago. I learned two different versions of melody to this poem at school. Now would be a good time to make it better known and regain its place alongside Waltzing Matilda, Advance Australia Fair and I am,You are, We are Australian - which is being sung in Nyungar by some school children in WA. And who remembers "There is a land where summer skies Are gleaming with a thousand dyes, Blending and 'witching in harmony, in harmony..?" What about "Sing a song of golden grain, And of rivers flowing " Oh! I shouldn't have started..! -
I love a sunburnt country
From guest Ms Abir Ali (contact)
As I sit here reading this poem my tears just seem to flow. A verse which I memorised in primary school reminds me of days without a worry. Now I understand this poem I am so touched- I love this poem and I love my sunburnt country -
-
Homesick
From guest Paul (contact)
Was relocated through work to the USA 9 years ago. Every so often I come across a poem such as this that serves to remind just how much I miss Australia. -
I to think this should be our National Anthem
From guest Paul (contact)
I learnt this about 30 years ago and was singing it to my 2 year old son to get him to sleep tonight and thought I should look it up. I remember the rendition from ANZAC day in primary school many many years ago in the Pilbara(Karratha)while growing up. Glad to have found it.....Going to send a copy to my little brother in Canada. -
-
AUSTRALIA
From guest Elisara Pale Malietoa (contact)
i have learnt so much about this poem it has taught me know my inner feelings, it has showed and encouraged me to love and be proud of my country and the people that bought me to this country, -
From guest Elisara (contact)
this poem has taught me to be a person of my own, it has showed me what country is and how proud i should be of it, it has given me the determination to read more of your poems AND to also discover more of our great country "AUSTRALIA" -
We all had to learn this one along with Holy Dan in school. The imprint is there in our minds but the impact on our hearts is what makes this one of if not the most loved poem for Australians. Two lines from the poem sum it up ......
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand - -
Dorothea Mackellar
From guest Gerri (contact)
I feel that in sending a copy of Dorothea Mackellar's My Country to my English friends will them help in some way to understand our bond with this sometimes very harsh country -
From guest Margaret Heys (contact)
Never has there been a time when these great words have been true. I could not help but think of this poem at this time of hardship for my fellow Australians. Dorothea Mackellar your words are an inspiration to all that have been affected by the harshness, that "the filmy veil of greeness will thicken as we gaze. -
correction????
From guest Deirdre (contact)
its 'rugged mountain ranges' not 'ragged mountain ranges"....i think. -
This is a wonderful poem written by an Australian about her country. When written Australia was a harsh country, and still is as the bush fires in Victoria prove. We live in a country of extremes, bush fires in the south and floods in the north, with hot, humid weather right now where I myself live, hoping for rain and soon. Dorothea had the insight and the love of her own country to see both good, bad, easy and harsh but loved it just the same. It does not make Australia any more special as the majority of people love, and are proud of their countries, but for Australians this poem is very, very special. Von ~ Brisbane
-
I love a sunburnt country
From guest Marjorie (contact)
I contacted a friend of mine in Australia yesterday because I was concerned about the safety of herself, her husband and family with the dreadful fires ravaging the land. She replied, reassuring me they were all well, and in the course of the email, quoted the line from the poem. I love poetry and was curious to read the whole poem, which I have done. I lived in Africa for many years and this poem has such resonance for me. It brought tears to my eyes thinking of the devastation being wrought in Australia even as I write and it filled me with nostalgia for Africa. I live in Greece now, which is in itself a sunburnt land in the summer and we have seen terrible fires here in the last two years. I am filled with sadness for the people of Australia at this time, for the poor creatures who are suffering and for the devastated countryside. This is a beautiful, evocative poem which I intend to share with my family and friends as my friend shared it with me. May the fires soon die and the land recover its beauty. -
-
I love a sunburnt country
From guest Helen-Mary Langlands (contact)
2008 and 2009 verify the conditions Dorothea MacKellar must also have experienced to know our country so well. -
sunburned country...
From guest jen richardson (nee bennion) (contact)
my Great Aunt Rosa lived in Aus twice between 1923-1928, returned to England but still loves to sing "a sunburned country" - as we all did while marching in to class - maybe the rugged/ragged is just a pronunciation - but it's rugged for me! -
I LOVE THAT POEM!!!
From guest sioux (contact)
what a tear jerker! I miss my sunburnt country and this poem really rips at ones soul.. -
I had never heard of her before, despite the fact that I once had an Australian pen pal. What a wonderful poem! The imagery is magnificent! I love how her classical technique just disappears, it flows into the strength of the meaning. It's as all great poetry, more vivid than photography. I particularly also, beside adoring the second stanza, love the line" an opal-hearted country. Being a flatlander from Illinois, it makes the land of my childhood friend more vivid for me.
-
I'm afraid I 've never heard of her before, even though, years ago, I had an Australian pen pal. What wonderful poetry! I love the vivid unconventional imagery with the sound technical prowess. Her technique just disappears and the meaning shines through. What magical descriptions, you don't even need photographs!
-
As i don't have a book by Dorothea Mackellar I have had to check elsewhere for 'rugged' or 'ragged'. I finally checked on the DM Official website: http://www.dorotheamackellar.com.au/ so have now altered to the poem to read 'ragged' as i believe this to be correct. If anyone who does actually have a poetry book by this author and can give us a 100% confirmation it will be very much appreciated.
Thanks -Von ~ Oldpoetry Team -
Of ragged mountain ranges
From guest John McKeon (contact)
Was it 'rugged' or 'ragged' in the original version?
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Mackellar
This site directed me to a picture of the original manuscript at the State Library of NSW. This revealed clearly the line 'Of ragged mountain ranges'.
(I think the word 'ragged' is entirely appropriate. The Himalayas are rugged, Australian ranges are ragged - because they are so ancient and weather worn.
By the way the poem tugs at my heart strings too.)
MOD
I'll make the correction unless Von from Oz would like the honors.
CN - Done, now ragged! - Von
-
My Country
From guest dave (contact)
She also describes Australia’s landscape by using words such as “I love a sunburnt country” and “of rugged mountain ranges”. -
Sunburnt Country
From guest Ruth Blattman (contact)
I really think that the drought now is one that is a natural 100 year drought, which we will come through, as we did then. I know I am a sceptic, but to-day the drive from the coast to the country was typical of the second beautiful verse, that really does sum up our very special country. -
All you who have not loved her....
From guest Malcolm Curley (contact)
This poem has twice the impact if you are living away from Australia, as I am. Australia is unique and Australians are very lucky to live there.Many may never realize it until they move or travel overseas.Often think of the second verse- says it all. -
From guest Geoff Purssell (contact)
Truly a heart warming poem for all Australians who love their country. I only pray that it is still taught in schools today as it was in my day. My hope it that generations to come will love this poem as much as they love this 'sunburnt country' Australia. -
Song
From guest Matt (contact)
Here's a song based on the same poem: http://www.youtube.com/user/GavinLockley -
Justification
From guest Maggie (contact)
My country” is a poem that expresses Dorothea Mackellar passion for Australia. Dorothea descriptive words conjure up images of Australia’s identity and provide Australians with a sense of patriotic pride. It compares the good and bad side of Australia including its weather; “her pitiless blue sky” and also “of drought and flooding rains”. She also describes Australia’s landscape by using words such as “I love a sunburnt country” and “of rugged mountain ranges”.
What I like about this poem is its description of the landscape and the love we have for this landscape. It is also fascinating that the extremes of droughts and floods were being mentioned in this poem.
-
My Country
From guest Ann Parker (contact)
I have found myself repeating lines from this poem over and over as I walk in the bush or see it rain etc. I have also sent it to my daughters temporarily overseas and it always makes them cry. Thanks for having all the words clearly laid out. My favourite line that always catches me in the troat is " Core of my heart, my country" -
Australia, my home
I've always loved hearing this poem recited by Leonard Teale (Australian Actor)The poem describes our country perfectly and a very fitting one to read today (Australia day 2008) I never realized Dorothy Mackeller wrote it, I'll be reading more of her poems.
Joan -
From guest maddie (contact)
i am away currently for three months and reading this poem just reminds of australia and only now that i am away did i realise how much i love australia -
My beautiful country
From guest Carolyn Parfitt (contact)
I thought of this poem when I was in the Kakadu National Park on holiday recently. Trekking across a forested mountain with a deep emerald gorge enticing from below, I said out loud, "I LOVE MY COUNTRY". Thank goodness it is no longer in the hands of those traitors who diminished it. -
Australia I love you
From guest karen (contact)
Thank you for presenting the complete poem. I have never read it completely before. Only up to "her wide brown land for me". We are so lucky to be here. -
CONFUSED
From guest JIM (contact)
I LIKE THE POEM BUT DONT HAVE A CLUE WHAT IT IS ABOUT OR THE RHYMING TECHNIQUES THAT GO WITH IT -
it was fantastic
From guest sarah (contact)
it was coooooooool :) i enjoyed readin it and i did it 4 my assignment i tink dat dis poem is touchin -
-
Homesick
From guest Catherine Clarke (contact)
When I read CathyZ's comment, the ache and the longing for Australia washed over me again - an Aussie on exile in Canada. It is the land, the bush that I miss the most......the sight and smell of the gum trees, the dirt, the "wide brown land" as Dorothea Mackellar writes. The land that my forbears farmed is in my blood forever. -
an australian classic
From guest ben (contact)
this beaut poem belongs besides the likes of the man from snowy river. dorothea mackeller has captured most of what makes this country unique and beautiful. even the most tried hardships of australian life, she delivers it as if a drought is still beautiful. geez its hard to make australia look bad. -
-
how great
From guest alanaa (contact)
i chose this for my poetry assignment. i really like it !! thanks -
Homesick
From guest Cathz (contact)
This poem, along with the Peter Allen song, 'I still call Australia home' always makes me cry. After 20 years in New Zealand, lovely though it is, I still miss the wide brown land immensely. By the way, it was 'ragged mountain ranges' when I learned that verse by heart over 40 years ago. Are you certain it was rugged in the original, Vonnie? -
hi!!!
From guest mikayla (contact)
I love this poem... So I chose it for my English Assignment poem...The fluency with-in the wordsd are Fantastic.... -
Thanks
From guest Leanne (contact)
Was looking for this poem for me and my 9 year old grand-daughter as she loved my reciting one of the verses (the only one I knew)to her the other day. It was great to find this and thanks for having it here. I will forward a copy of it to for all to enjoy again and again. -
-
-
Analysing...
From guest Ellie (contact)
I'm using this poem for an English assignment (i have to analyse a poem!) and i LOVE how describing it is! By the way...I'm 16 and I really think its great that people like Peter Lindwall are sourcing the correct words etc. for the younger people to be correctly informed and even though so many wouldn't care at all I'm saying "thank-you" on behalf of them :) The little things mean alot! -
I Love This Poem
From guest Ellen Clare (contact)
Because we all have the land where we are born and raised deep in our blood and via this poem you can hear her veins flowing. Ellen From Michigan, home of the Great Lakes! -
My Country
From guest Peter Lindwall (contact)
I have been hearing an advertisement on 4BC in Brisbane where part of "My Country" is recited and in particular, the line," of ragged mountain ranges". I always thought it was "rugged". I have looked on the net and at least two sites quote ragged and rugged. Which one is in the original poem? Because I suspect that children who resource info from the net could be getting the wrong information. This needs to be corrected as this is a widely read and famous piece of Australian poetry. I don't believe Dorethea Mackellar would have used ragged to describe moutain ranges, but I could be wrong. -
-
I love a sunburnt country
From guest Helga (contact)
So thrilled I found this poem in a flash on the internet. It was going round in my head and I couldn't remember who wrote it and some of the lines. It is so beautiful and true. -
2007 NSW floods
From guest MKH (contact)
Currently living in England, and hearing about the recent flooding back home, knowing the drought the country has been suffering... i sought out this poem. one state has cracks in the gasping earth, the next state has waist high waters. my country. and i miss it. -
I love a sunburnt country
From guest Tim (contact)
This Poem is Soooo Inspiring an true - especially after the Drought and flooding rains that we are experiencing now -
From guest darcie moore (contact)
i love this poem because it is not fake it is very very true it is nearly the best poem i've ever heard -
-
D MACKELLAR
From guest dena (contact)
it is true we all do love a sunburnt country and i love this poem not because its famous but because its how i feel about australia. dorothea is a very inspiring person(R.I.P)even though she died her memory and her poems will live on forever as a part of australian history. -
-
From an Australian at heart (but Canadian by birth)
From guest M (contact)
The images this poem conjurs up are the most wonderful I could ever imagine. Before I had the opportunity to visit this great country, I never thought such things existed in one place. The greatest part is they do! I hope one day I will be calling Australia my home (it truly is where my heart is) -
Sunburnt Country
From guest Davvyde Flanagan (contact)
I have just purchased a property along Torryburn Road, Torryburn. It is opposite an imposing horse stud. I am told that Dorothy McKellar actually wrote "Sunburnt Country" in the stud's homestead. Is that true? By the way, Torryburn is a district, not a town, near Dungog and Paterson in the Hunter Valley of NSW, just north-west of Newcastle. -
I loved this poem
From guest Norma Crawford-Meads (contact)
Thankyou so much for giving me the opportunity to re-learn this beautiful poem than I had previously learnt at Wagga Wagga High School back in 1954/5/6. Living in beautiful New Zealand for over 40 years, I have often wanted to quote it but the words eluded my memory when trying to recall it. Now we have been travelling for almost three years world-wide and I will take it with me everywhere. Thanks again. -
I love a sunburnt country
From guest Mike Whitaker (contact)
When I first heard and read this poem I thought it referred to South Africa. This lovely country has many, many similar beautiful mountains, rivers, plains and coastlines. In truth perhaps the Aussies are our brothers (except on the cricket pitch and rugby fields.) This is from one born a Londoner. -
My Home
From guest Glenda Lyn Bregenzer (contact)
I have travelled for over thirty years on flying buying visits all around the world, taking my Vegemite from Dubai to the Phillipines, in my heart I carry this poem, Waltzing Matilda and the friendly accent on my last leg back to Sydney via Qantas. I did read that this poem was written two years before publication, by a homesick 19yr old in a London spring. My thoughts cross to that 19yr old, when I have felt grey in London and Europe, The poems of the heart never die, and they are truly classic. -
From guest Lena (contact)
As much as i love studying in the US, this poem reminds me so much of home. Aussie, aussie, aussie! -
True Blue
From guest Ernest Goldberg (contact)
A Poem that make every Aussie home sick I includet it in Directories True Blue Home page to be found: http://directory.com.au/categories.asp?cat_id=960 by all Ausies over the world.The graetes Place on Earth. -
From guest Brad (contact)
I moved to the us 4 years ago and now live in FL. I was thinking of this poem and God bless you for having it on the web. My heart swells as I read. How I miss my country. -
From guest kylie (contact)
Melbourne zoo has merged this poem, with outback landscapes and native animals. It's a wonderful idea but, my kids didn't know the poem so, I am taking it to the school trip on friday to teach. -
Fantatstic
Dorothea describes the open country landscape of Australia so beautifully. Many people try to copy her poems but they can't match her style for the vividness of her descriptions of landscape -
i needed to recite this poem and i reckon it really flows. i agree that Oz does have it's beauty and terror but it IS the wide brown land for me
Catcha later folks! -
we needed to come up with three songs that we think represent our country for school this one was the first to pop into my head!!!! thanks for the website!
-
This is the best poem in the world. My teachers made it into a song!
-
As a Preschool Teacher I have introduced this poem to my class for Australia Day. Even at 4-5 years of age there is such appreciation and imagery in the words for even the youngest Australian.
-
17 years in Europe. My Dads B'day today, Australia Day, and this beautiful, everlasting piece of work. Tears in my eyes.
-
Yes the Poem has been set to music. I remember singing it at school many times - its still as relevant today as ever. Although I live in the UK for the present, whenever I think of home or want to tell someone about Australia, this poem says it all. Happy Australia Day!
-
This is indeed a remarkable poem as much for what it implies as for what it says. Using metaphors from Nature and without any direct allusion to those particularly Australian traits of which even foreigners are aware, the poet also conveys the character of her people: independent, brave, hearty, indomitable, proud, expansive and nowhere duplicated on this earth. The qualities of the land itself reflect the qualities of its people. Although the national character will allow Australians to boast of their wild beautiful country, their native humility precludes them from boasting of their own deeds in taming that wild land and advancing her fame through acts of selfless heroism on behalf of humanity and civilization. This poem, the most subtle but one of the most powerful of patriotic poems, pays tribute to the men and women who made that brown land bloom as well as to the land that was their crucible and became their monument. Has this poem ever been set to music?
-
My 86 year old Dad just asked me to find a copy of this poem for him to read at his Australia Day BBQ at the Retirement home where he lives. I think the words cross all generations and places of birth to create a unity we could all benefit from in other aspects of our lives.
-
Today is Australia Day and I can't think of a better poem to celebrate this great country. I learnt this poem in school, all those years ago, but still it makes me treasure what this country offers.
-
thats the best poem ever!!
-
I lived in Oz 20 years ago and heard this poem, just messing about today and found it again.... it brought tears to my eyes as I thought of your wonderful country. In England today it is pouring with rain, dark and cold.... Oh for a sunburnt country!
-
what a beautiful poem~! I love it!
-
tell you what...when i mix up the words it becomes even better...look for more in this poem than may be present in surface imagery
-
A great poem, I love it. It really speaks to me.
-
i think its one of the great poems of australian literature.
-
this is silly, but kool, i have to learn the 3rd verse off by heart for english
-
Our year 3 teacher is teaching us this bueatifull poem, as an Australian girl it let's me know that this is really my home.
Adding your comment:
1 - 42 of 42
