Original Handwritten poem by Banjo Paterson
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 5:39 am
Many people will know that Banjo Paterson wrote an intensely moving poem entitled "A Bunch of Roses."
Here (attached photo) he writes out the first verse of his poem and signs it. (No mistakes or using white-out). Delighted to have obtained and now pleased to share this original (around 1901, I think) handwritten verse by Banjo!
It is attached to a 5" x 7" pasteboard. Handwritten poems by Banjo like this one are very rare. I have only seen one other example so this item must be a national literary treasure.
"Roses ruddy and roses white,
What are the joys that my heart discloses?
Sitting alone in the fading light
Memories come to me here tonight
With the wonderful scent of the big red roses.
(............)
Only her memory lives tonight -
God in His wisdom her young life closes
Over her grave may the turf be light,
Cover her coffin with roses white -
She was always fond of the big white roses.
Such are the visions that fade away -
Man proposes and God disposes;
Look in the glass and I see today
Only an old man, worn and grey,
Bending his head to a bunch of roses."
This document came from the important Autograph collection of "Pearl" Dilke (nee Faithfull) b1876 - d1955. She became Lady Dilke (baroness) in 1915.
Her father Monty Faithfull was famous for his brave confrontation as a teenager with The Ben Hall Gang. A serious gunfight. A fascinating story in itself and he was eventually given a solid gold medal for bravery.
At age 39, Pearl married Charles Wentworth Dilke who died 1918 aged 44.
Her husband Charles in his younger and more lucid years in 1894 was known to Sir Henry Parkes who was looking after the lad's interests on behalf of his father in England and trying to put him in touch with men of influence.
I have an 1894 letter with envelope from Sir Henry Parkes to her (much later to be) husband. Yes, an actual letter from The Father of Federation, offering him introductions.
It was written at Kenilworth (house name) in Sydney and that magnificent house still stands today. Two years later Sir Henry Parkes died at Kenilworth.
Sir Henry had 17 children.... and no hobbies obviously.
Here (attached photo) he writes out the first verse of his poem and signs it. (No mistakes or using white-out). Delighted to have obtained and now pleased to share this original (around 1901, I think) handwritten verse by Banjo!
It is attached to a 5" x 7" pasteboard. Handwritten poems by Banjo like this one are very rare. I have only seen one other example so this item must be a national literary treasure.
"Roses ruddy and roses white,
What are the joys that my heart discloses?
Sitting alone in the fading light
Memories come to me here tonight
With the wonderful scent of the big red roses.
(............)
Only her memory lives tonight -
God in His wisdom her young life closes
Over her grave may the turf be light,
Cover her coffin with roses white -
She was always fond of the big white roses.
Such are the visions that fade away -
Man proposes and God disposes;
Look in the glass and I see today
Only an old man, worn and grey,
Bending his head to a bunch of roses."
This document came from the important Autograph collection of "Pearl" Dilke (nee Faithfull) b1876 - d1955. She became Lady Dilke (baroness) in 1915.
Her father Monty Faithfull was famous for his brave confrontation as a teenager with The Ben Hall Gang. A serious gunfight. A fascinating story in itself and he was eventually given a solid gold medal for bravery.
At age 39, Pearl married Charles Wentworth Dilke who died 1918 aged 44.
Her husband Charles in his younger and more lucid years in 1894 was known to Sir Henry Parkes who was looking after the lad's interests on behalf of his father in England and trying to put him in touch with men of influence.
I have an 1894 letter with envelope from Sir Henry Parkes to her (much later to be) husband. Yes, an actual letter from The Father of Federation, offering him introductions.
It was written at Kenilworth (house name) in Sydney and that magnificent house still stands today. Two years later Sir Henry Parkes died at Kenilworth.
Sir Henry had 17 children.... and no hobbies obviously.