Old Fairyland extended farFrom Russian steppes and hills of pine,From where the frozen water are,And thence across the German Rhine.The British Isles, and Spain and France,The lands along the southern strand,The Greece and Rome of old romance,Were all in ancient Fairyland.
But men grew wiser in the northAnd lost their faith in fairy lore,And all the fairies driven forthWere fain to seek a foreign shore.They left a northern harbour's mouthAnd sailed for many an ocean mile,And made their home in "Coralisle".
But now their hearts are ill at ease,They cannot keep their southern home,For steamships sail across the seas,And traders round their island roam,And Progress--fatal to the bard--Is fatal to the fairy band.The world must roll, but yet 'tis hardThat they must leave New Fairyland.
Sources, publication & text notesReference details
Canonical recordPOEM-000274
Copy-textProject Gutenberg Australia, Collected Poems of Henry Lawson (2022), anchor p50; selected digital copy-text retained exactly; wording and layout confirmed against Ironbark Resources under D-180
While The Billy BoilsSearch