Henry Kendall Poem by Francis Duggan

There is music in his verses and some spledid poems he wrote
And by some he is considered as Australia's finest poet
And though Paterson and Lawson have enjoyed a greater fame
Henry Kendall's as was always is an under rated name.

Henry Kendall as was always is poetry's under rated man
Though he wrote more memorable verses in his far too brief
life span
Than all of his contemporaries yet even some Australians of
today
When you mention to them of the poet from Ulladula 'never heard of him they say'.

It was he who wrote the best poem to Australia's Indigenous race
'The Last Of His Tribe' forever will command the highest place
Other poets wrote for the Colonials but Henry Kendall wrote for all
And his name must be remembered when the great bards we recall.

In the steep and wooded gullies where the little Bellbirds sing
Kendall found his inspiration in a long forgotten Spring
Since the eighteen seventies and eighties many Springs have come and gone
But the bard is still remembered and his legend still lives on.

Like his poet friend Charles Harpur, Henry Kendall wrote for all
And his name must be remembered when the great bards we recall
And like most poets he died a poor man and he was only forty three
Still one of Australia's finest and few if any great as he.