poems and songs-第5章
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How it surges and swells through the gorges and dells；
Under the ledges and over the lea；
Where a watery sound goeth moaning around …
God help our men at sea！
Page： 17
Oh！ never a tempest blew on the shore
But that some heart did moan
For a darling voice it would hear no more
And a face that had left it lone； lone； lone …
A face that had left it lone！
I am watching by a pane
Darkened with the gusty rain；
Watching； through a mist of tears；
Sad with thoughts of other years；
For a brother I did miss
In a stormy time like this。
Ah！ the torrent howls past； like a fiend on the blast；
Under the ledges and over the lea；
And the pent waters gleam； and the wild surges scream …
God help our men at sea！
Ah； Lord！ they may grope through the dark to find
Thy hand within the gale；
And cries may rise on the wings of the wind
From mariners weary and pale； pale； pale …
From mariners weary and pale！
'Tis a fearful thing to know；
While the storm…winds loudly blow；
That a man can sometimes come
Too near to his father's home；
So that he shall kneel and say；
‘‘Lord； I would be far away！''
Ho！ the hurricanes roar round a dangerous shore；
Under the ledges and over the lea；
And there twinkles a light on the billows so white …
God help our men at sea！
SITTING BY THE FIRE
Barren Age and withered World！
Oh！ the dying leaves；
Like a drizzling rain；
Falling round the roof …
Pattering on the pane！
Frosty Age and cold； cold World！
Ghosts of other days；
Trooping past the faded fire；
Flit before the gaze。
Page： 18
Now the wind goes soughing wild
O'er the whistling Earth；
And we front a feeble flame；
Sitting round the hearth！
Sitting by the fire；
Watching in its glow；
Ghosts of other days
Trooping to and fro。
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Oh； the nights … the nights we've spent；
Sitting by the fire；
Cheerful in its glow；
Twenty summers back …
Twenty years ago！
If the days were days of toil
Wherefore should we mourn；
There were shadows near the shine；
Flowers with the thorn？
And we still can recollect
Evenings spent in mirth …
Fragments of a broken life；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Cheerful in its glow；
Twenty summers back …
Twenty years ago。
Beauty stooped to bless us once；
Sitting by the fire；
Happy in its glow；
Forty summers back …
Forty years ago。
Words of love were interchanged；
Maiden hearts we stole；
And the light affection throws
Slept on every soul。
Oh； the hours went flying past …
Hours of priceless worth；
But we took no note of Time；
Sitting round the hearth：
Page： 19
Sitting by the fire；
Happy in its glow；
Forty summers back …
Forty years ago。
Gleesome children were we not？
Sitting by the fire；
Ruddy in its glow；
Sixty summers back …
Sixty years ago。
Laughing voices filled the room；
Oh； the songs we sung；
When the evenings hurried by …
When our hearts were young！
Pleasant faces watched the flame …
Eyes illumed with mirth …
And we told some merry tales；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Ruddy in its glow；
Sixty summers back …
Sixty years ago。
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Barren Age and withered World！
Oh； the dying leaves；
Like a drizzling rain；
Falling round the roof …
Pattering on the pane！
Frosty Age and cold； cold World！
Ghosts of other days；
Trooping past the faded fire；
Flit before the gaze。
Now the wind goes soughing wild
O'er the whistling Earth；
And we front a feeble flame；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Watching； in its glow；
Ghosts of other days
Trooping to and fro！
Page： 20
BELLAMBI'S MAID
AMONGST the thunder…splintered caves
On Ocean's long and windy shore；
I catch the voice of dying waves
Below the ridges old and hoar；
The spray descends in silver showers；
And lovely whispers come and go；
Like echoes from the happy hours
I never more may hope to know！
The low mimosa droops with locks
Of yellow hair； in dewy glade；
While far above the caverned rocks
I hear the dark Bellambi's Maid！
The moonlight dreams upon the sail
That drives the restless ship to sea；
The clouds troop past the mountain vale；
And sink like spirits down the lee；
The foggy peak of Corrimal；
Uplifted； bears the pallid glow
That streams from yonder airy hall
And robes the sleeping hills below；
The wandering meteors of the sky
Beneath the distant waters wade；
While mystic music hurries by …
The songs of dark Bellambi's Maid！
Why comes your voice； you lonely One；
Along the wild harp's wailing strings？
Have not our hours of meeting gone；
Like fading dreams on phantom wings？
Are not the grasses round your grave
Yet springing green and fresh to view？
And does the gleam on Ocean's wave
Tide gladness now to me and you？
Oh！ cold and cheerless falls the night
On withered hearts and hopes decayed：
And I have seen but little light
Since died the dark Bellambi's Maid！
Page： 21
THE CURLEW SONG
The viewless blast flies moaning past；
Away to the forest trees；
Where giant pines and leafless vines
Bend 'neath the wandering breeze！
From ferny streams； unearthly screams
Are heard in the midnight blue；
As afar they roam to the shepherd's home；
The shrieks of the wild Curlew！
As afar they roam
To the shepherd's home；
The shrieks of the wild Curlew！
The mists are curled o'er a dark…faced world；
And the shadows sleep around；
Where the clear lagoon reflects the moon
In her hazy glory crowned；
While dingoes howl； and wake the growl
Of the watchdog brave and true；
Whose loud； rough bark shoots up in the dark；
With the song of the lone Curlew！
Whose loud； rough bark
Shoots up in the dark；
With the song of the lone Curlew！
Near herby banks the dark green ranks
Of the rushes stoop to drink；
And the ripples chime； in a measured time；
On the smooth and mossy brink；
As wind…breaths sigh； and pass； and die；
To start from the swamps anew；
And join again o'er ridge and plain
With the wails of the sad Curlew！
And join again
O'er ridge and plain
With the wails of the sad Curlew！
The clouds are thrown around the cone
Of the mountain bare and high；
（Whose craggy peak uprears to the cheek …
To the face of the sombre sky）
Page： 22
When down beneath the foggy wreath；
Full many a gully through；
They rend the air； like cries of despair；
The screams of the wild Curlew！
