In the Days When the World Was Wide, and Other Verses

A spirited collection of verses that captures the raw pulse of late‑19th‑century Australia, this volume brings the dust‑kissed outback and the bustling city streets to life with a keen, down‑to‑earth voice. The poems move from the camaraderie of mates on endless tracks to the uneasy grief of drought‑parched farms, weaving humour and melancholy into a seamless portrait of a country still finding its shape. The author’s keen eye for ordinary moments—an inn’s clatter, a drover’s long ride, the quiet resolve of a selector’s daughter—offers listeners a vivid sense of place without ever feeling preachy.

Interlaced with lively anecdotes of a friendly rivalry that sparked a burst of creativity, the verses also reflect on the broader social currents of the time, from the clash of bush legend and urban ambition to the simple, stubborn hope that carries each character forward. Whether you’re drawn to the lyrical rustle of eucalyptus leaves or the sharp snap of a city’s siren, these poems invite you to linger in the world that was once both wide and intimate, and to hear the echo of voices that still speak to the heart of Australia today.