Rain from nowehere lingers on

In 2007, when things were pretty ordinary for many rural Australians, comic poet Murray Hartin found himself writing a poem that was a bit different from his other work.

For a bloke who is better known for describing a ringer ‘riding’ a swag the length of a jetliner during a very bumpy ride, or descriptions of his tenuous relationship with the Mr Whippy Man; the topic of depression and suicide is a big departure from the norm.

The poem, which Hartin says was written in a couple of hours and ‘just came to him’ describes the despair and suicidal thoughts of a young farmer who then receives a timely letter from his father.

Hartin’s poem ‘Rain from Nowhere’ was taken up as a call to arms by communities who wanted to keep depressed landholders from slipping into despair, Murray Hartin found himself enlisted as one of the educational entertainers invited to farm family gatherings.

» ABC Rural – Rain from nowhere lingers on