Clancy CLANCY OF THE OVERFLOW 

by A B Paterson 

 
 
 
I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better 
Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan years ago; 
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him. 
Just on spec, addressed as follows, 'Clancy, of The Overflow'. 

And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected 
(And I think the same was written with a thumb-nail dipped in tar); 
'Twas his shearing mate who wrote, and verbatim I will quote it: 
'Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are.' 

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy 
Gone a-droving down the Copper where the Western drovers go; 
As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing, 
For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know. 

And the bush has friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him 
In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars, 
And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains extended, 
And at night the wondrous glory of the everlasting stars. 

I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy 
Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall, 
And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty city, 
Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over all. 

And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle 
Of the tramways and the buses make hurry down the street; 
And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting 
Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet. 

And the hurrying people daunt me, and their pallid faces haunt me 
As they shoulder one another in their rush and nervous haste, 
With their eager eyes and greedy, and their stunted forms and weedy, 
For townsfolk have no time to grow, they have no time to waste. 

And I somehow rather fancy that I'd like to change with Clancy, 
Like to take a turn at droving where the seasons come and go, 
While he faced the round external of the cash-book and the journal - 
But I doubt he'd suit the office, Clancy of The Overflow. 

 
 

Return to the Battle Creek Michigan Inspiration page. 
 

A favorite Australian poem submitted by Liz Reaves