The Man From Iron Bark Poem by A B Banjo Paterson

The Man From Iron Bark

Rating: 3.5


It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town,
He wandered over street and park, he wandered up and down.
He loitered here he loitered there, till he was like to drop,
Until at last in sheer despair he sought a barber's shop.
'Ere! shave my beard and whiskers off, I'll be a man of mark,
I'll go and do the Sydney toff up home in Ironbark.'
The barber man was small and flash, as barbers mostly are,
He wore a strike-your-fancy sash he smoked a huge cigar;
He was a humorist of note and keen at repartee,
He laid the odds and kept a 'tote', whatever that may be,
And when he saw our friend arrive, he whispered, 'Here's a lark!
Just watch me catch him all alive, this man from Ironbark.'

There were some gilded youths that sat along the barber's wall.
Their eyes were dull, their heads were flat, they had no brains at all;
To them the barber passed the wink his dexter eyelid shut,
'I'll make this bloomin' yokel think his bloomin' throat is cut.'
And as he soaped and rubbed it in he made a rude remark:
'I s'pose the flats is pretty green up there in Ironbark.'

A grunt was all reply he got; he shaved the bushman's chin,
Then made the water boiling hot and dipped the razor in.
He raised his hand, his brow grew black, he paused awhile to gloat,
Then slashed the red-hot razor-back across his victim's throat;
Upon the newly-shaven skin it made a livid mark -
No doubt it fairly took him in - the man from Ironbark.

He fetched a wild up-country yell might wake the dead to hear,
And though his throat, he knew full well, was cut from ear to ear,
He struggled gamely to his feet, and faced the murd'rous foe:
'You've done for me! you dog, I'm beat! one hit before I go!
I only wish I had a knife, you blessed murdering shark!
But you'll remember all your life the man from Ironbark.'

He lifted up his hairy paw, with one tremendous clout
He landed on the barber's jaw, and knocked the barber out.
He set to work with nail and tooth, he made the place a wreck;
He grabbed the nearest gilded youth, and tried to break his neck.
And all the while his throat he held to save his vital spark,
And 'Murder! Bloody murder!' yelled the man from Ironbark.

A peeler man who heard the din came in to see the show;
He tried to run the bushman in, but he refused to go.
And when at last the barber spoke, and said ''Twas all in fun'
Twas just a little harmless joke, a trifle overdone.'
'A joke!' he cried, 'By George, that's fine; a lively sort of lark;
I'd like to catch that murdering swine some night in Ironbark.'

And now while round the shearing floor the list'ning shearers gape,
He tells the story o'er and o'er, and brags of his escape.
'Them barber chaps what keeps a tote, By George, I've had enough,
One tried to cut my bloomin' throat, but thank the Lord it's tough.'
And whether he's believed or no, there's one thing to remark,
That flowing beards are all the go way up in Ironbark.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Alistair Graham 02 December 2013

I’ll keep my beard close to my face if that’s how things are now I couldn’t risk the slip of blade across my throat; I vow To never visit such a place where barbers stand to cut The fringe, the locks, the hair on top, the throat, with eyes both shut

5 0 Reply
David Lewis Paget 02 December 2014

One of my favourite poems from a great Australian Poet. I always laugh out loud when reading this, it's so true to human nature. David Lewis Paget

3 0 Reply
Seamus O Brian 02 December 2014

Hilarious. I watched the scene unfold in suspense. Very jaunty rhythm. I loved it.

2 1 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 19 August 2024

A very pleasant poem to read and to reread. Excellent poem. Enjoyed tremendously! TOP Marks.5 Stars!

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 19 August 2024

TWO: the poem is relatively lighthearted and humorous, showcasing his ability to explore themes of national identity and bush life with a touch of comedy

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 19 August 2024

ONE: The bushman's victory, despite the barber's supposed sophistication, highlights the strength and resilience of the outback culture. Compared to Paterson's other works,

0 0 Reply
Bri Edwards 27 February 2023

I did not read poem, but only part of PH bio. I may return. ;) bri

0 0 Reply
John Richter 02 December 2014

Hahahaaha! Wonderful!

2 3 Reply
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