Shelton Lea is a natural poet of the streets. His Fitzroy or Redfern or Oxford St are as native as the bush is to Lawson and the balladists. The inhabitants of his places arise in their oppression like heroes. He can touch on a fishpond, or love, with delicacy. The themes of his singing meet in his farewell advice to his sons. Nebuchadnezzar pulls no hard, or soft, punches.
