Past Carin' ( 1899 )
by Henry Lawson
(1867 – 1922)
===========================
[ V.1 ]
Now up and down the siding brown
The great black crows are flyin',
And down below the spur, I know,
Another `milker's' dyin';
-------------------------------------------------
The crops have withered from the ground,
The tank's clay bed is glarin',
But from my heart no tear nor sound,
For I have gone past carin' –
-------------------------------------------------
Past worryin' or carin',
Past feelin' aught or carin';
But from my heart no tear nor sound,
For I have gone past carin'.
============================== ============
[ V.2 ]
Through Death and Trouble, turn about,
Through hopeless desolation,
Through flood and fever, fire and drought,
And slavery and starvation;
------------------------------------------------
Through childbirth, sickness, hurt, and blight,
And nervousness an' scarin',
Through bein' left alone at night,
I've got to be past carin'.
-----------------------------------------------
Past botherin' or carin',
Past feelin' and past carin';
Through city cheats and neighbours' spite,
I've come to be past carin'.
================================
[ V.3 ]
Our first child took, in days like these,
A cruel week in dyin',
All day upon her father's knees,
Or on my poor breast lyin';
---------------------------------------------------
The tears we shed -- the prayers we said
Were awful, wild -- despairin' !
I've pulled three through, and buried two
Since then -- and I'm past carin'.
---------------------------------------------------
I've grown to be past carin',
Past worryin' and wearin';
I've pulled three through and buried two
Since then, and I'm past carin'.
===================================
[ V.4 ]
'Twas ten years first, then came the worst,
All for a dusty clearin',
I thought, I thought my heart would burst
When first my man went shearin';
----------------------------------------------
He's drovin' in the great North-west,
I don't know how he's farin';
For I, the one that-who loved him best,
Have grown to be past carin'.
--------------------------------------------------
I've grown to be past carin'
Past lookin' for or carin';
The girl that waited long ago,
Has lived to be past carin'.
=================================
[ V.5 ]
My eyes are dry, I cannot cry,
I've got no heart for breakin',
But where it was in days gone by,
A dull and empty achin'.
-----------------------------------------------
My last boy ran away from me,
I know my temper's wearin',
But now I only wish to be
Beyond all signs of carin'.
---------------------------------------------
Past wearyin' or carin',
Past feelin' and despairin';
And now I only wish to be
Beyond all signs of carin'.
==============================