The Greying of My Hair

Henry Lawson, 1907

      Oh! the world is very shifty
      In every land and clime —
      We were dark-haired men of fifty
      In my father's father's time;
      And in vain I seek to borrow
      Comfort — for they two had care;
      I can only gaze in sorrow
      At the greying of my hair.

      I have not been over naughty,
      And I've not been over good,
      But a grey-haired man of forty
      My tribe never understood.
      I took no heed of the morrow,
      I was brave to do and dare —
      So I gaze in pride and sorrow
      At the greying of my hair.