Frank the Poet facts for kids

Francis MacNamara (born around 1810 – died August 28, 1861) was an Irish writer. He was known as Frank the Poet. Francis was a convict who was sent to the Colony of New South Wales, Australia. He came from Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland. Frank wrote poems and songs that shared the feelings of convicts. He often made up his verses on the spot.

Life as a Convict

Francis MacNamara was found guilty of theft in 1832. He was sentenced to seven years of transportation to Australia. This meant he had to leave Ireland and live in Australia as a punishment.

He often tried to run away. Because of this, his sentence was made longer. He also received other punishments. Eventually, he was sent to Port Arthur in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). This was a very strict prison.

In 1847, he received a ticket of leave. This was a special document that gave convicts some freedom before their full sentence ended. He became completely free in 1849. After this, not much is known about his life. His poems show that he was an educated person. They also suggest he had strong beliefs about how society should be run.

His Famous Writings

Frank started writing poems as soon as he became a convict. He even made up a poem in court about being sent to Botany Bay. He also wrote a long poem about his case during the ship journey to Australia.

Most of his poems were shared by convicts just by telling them to each other. Only one of his longer poems was written down. Some of his songs and short poems are still around today. They are kept in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. They were written down in the late 1800s.

A well-known song called Moreton Bay or A Convict's Lament is often sung in Australian schools. Many people believe Frank the Poet wrote it. His most famous published work is A Convict's Tour to Hell. He wrote this poem in October 1839. At that time, he was working as a shepherd in Stroud.

A Convict's Tour to Hell

In A Convict's Tour to Hell, Frank imagines he dies while still a prisoner. He thinks he won't go to heaven, so he heads towards hell. He meets Charon, who takes people across the River Styx. Charon gives him a free ride because of his reputation.

Frank doesn't like the look of hell. He first tries to get into Purgatory. But Pope Pius VII tells him that Limbo was made only for priests and popes. So, Frank tries hell instead. There, he sees many of his old jailers. This includes the harsh Captain Logan. He also sees Governor Darling and Captain Cook. Captain Cook is there for discovering New South Wales.

Finally, the Devil sends Frank to Heaven. The Devil says hell is only for the "Grandees of the Land" (important people). Frank joins the poor and ordinary people in heaven. Saint Peter lets him into Heaven. Other people already there, like Bold Jack Donahue (a convict who became a bushranger), speak up for him.

Later Life and Legacy

Francis MacNamara passed away in Mudgee on August 28, 1861. News of his death was printed in three newspapers in New South Wales. These were the Western Post, the Empire, and the Maitland Mercury.

On August 5, 2012, ABC Radio National broadcast a program about him. It was called "Frank the Poet - A Convict's Tour to Hell."

See also

• List of convicts transported to Australia