When the drought breaks

  • Year: 1936
When the drought breaks
Queensland in drought, 1920s, SLQ image

 

‘WHEN the drought breaks, 
And the grass grows,
And the cows are deep in clover,
I'll take you then for a trip to town
You shall buy new shoes, and a new blue gown —
New things to wear all over,
And a rose-bowl,
And a glass vase.
And a basket for your mending;
When the rain falls, 
And the grass grows,
There'll be coin for my lady's spending.’
  
And the drought broke, 
And the grass grew,
And the cows in clover waded;
But there was no time for the trip to town,
And no one cared that the old blue gown
Was fashionless and faded.
With rates to pay,
A barn to build,
And a fence that's wanting mending.
Though the rain falls,
And the cows thrive,
There is little left for spending.
 
Oh, the drought breaks,
And the grass grows
In the pastures clean and shady;
And to-day there's time for a trip to town;
To-day at last there's a fine new gown,
And slippers for my lady.
But she cares naught
For the gay shops,
And she has no need for spending
In the cool grave
Where the rain falls
And the white-rose bush is bending.
 
           by Lydia O'Neil,   Courier Mail, 7 November 1936, p23

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