Bernard O Dowd Poem by Francis Duggan

From Beaufort in Victoria he scaled the heights of literary fame
And in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries his was a household name
A socialist 'til the day he died to his cause he remained true
Though he never received the credit the credit he was due
Some claim him to be Australia's National Poet he did his Country proud
This person who had known of so much fame the great Bernard O Dowd
By all accounts a down to earth man untainted by conceit
'Tis said a humbler person than he was one could not wish to meet
Despite the passing of the years his poems worthy of note
And in Australian Literarure he is a major poet
Penning verse to him came naturally well practiced at his trade
And it surely can be said of him that he did make the grade
With those who claim he was Australia's National Poet many may well agree
From Beaufort in Victoria there were few as great as he.