an anthology of australian verse-第13章
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And thrice has the rock lain bare。
But the waters of Hope have flowed and fled;
And never from blue hill's breast
Come back by the sun and the sands devoured
Where the pelican builds her nest。
New Country
Conde had come with us all the way
Eight hundred miles but the fortnight's rest
Made him fresh as a youngster; the sturdy bay!
And Lurline was looking her very best。
Weary and footsore; the cattle strayed
'Mid the silvery saltbush well content;
Where the creeks lay cool 'neath the gidya's shade
The stock…horses clustered; travel…spent。
In the bright spring morning we left them all
Camp; and cattle; and white; and black
And rode for the Range's westward fall;
Where the dingo's trail was the only track。
Slow through the clay…pans; wet to the knee;
With the cane…grass rustling overhead;
Swift o'er the plains with never a tree;
Up the cliffs by a torrent's bed。
Bridle on arm for a mile or more
We toiled; ere we reached Bindanna's verge
And saw as one sees a far…off shore
The blue hills bounding the forest surge。
An ocean of trees; by the west wind stirred;
Rolled; ever rolled; to the great cliff's base;
And its sound like the noise of waves was heard
'Mid the rocks and the caves of that lonely place。
。 。 。 。 。
We recked not of wealth in stream or soil
As we heard on the heights the breezes sing;
We felt no longer our travel…toil;
We feared no more what the years might bring。
No Message
She heard the story of the end;
Each message; too; she heard;
And there was one for every friend;
For her alone no word。
And shall she bear a heavier heart;
And deem his love was fled;
Because his soul from earth could part
Leaving her name unsaid?
No No! Though neither sign nor sound
A parting thought expressed
Not heedless passed the Homeward…Bound
Of her he loved the best。
Of voyage…perils; bravely borne;
He would not tell the tale;
Of shattered planks and canvas torn;
And war with wind and gale。
He waited till the light…house star
Should rise against the sky;
And from the mainland; looming far;
The forest scents blow by。
He hoped to tell assurance sweet!
That pain and grief were o'er
What blessings haste the soul to meet;
Ere yet within the door。
Then one farewell he thought to speak
When all the rest were past
As in the parting…hour we seek
The dearest hand the last。
And while for this delaying but
To see Heaven's opening Gate
Lo; it received him and was shut
Ere he could say 〃I wait。〃
Happy Days
A fringe of rushes one green line
Upon a faded plain;
A silver streak of water…shine
Above; tree…watchers twain。
It was our resting…place awhile;
And still; with backward gaze;
We say: 〃'Tis many a weary mile
But there were happy days。〃
And shall no ripple break the sand
Upon our farther way?
Or reedy ranks all knee…deep stand?
Or leafy tree…tops sway?
The gold of dawn is surely met
In sunset's lavish blaze;
And in horizons hidden yet
There shall be happy days。
Henry Lea Twisleton。
To a Cabbage Rose
Thy clustering leaves are steeped in splendour;
No evening red; no morning dun;
Can show a hue as rich and tender
As thine bright lover of the sun!
What wondrous hints of hidden glory;
Of strains no human lips can sing;
What symbols rare of life's strange story;
Dost thou from earth's dark bosom bring!
What elements have made thy sweetness;
Thy glowing hue; thy emerald stem?
What hand has fashioned to completeness
From tiny germ; thy diadem?
Thou art the fair earth's fond expression
Of tenderness for heaven above
The virgin blush that yields confession
Thou bright 〃ambassador of love〃!
Fair are thy leaves when summer glowing
Lies in the lap of swooning spring;
But where art thou when autumn; blowing;
Bids youth and tenderness take wing?
Sweet messenger! thou waftest beauty
Wherever human lives are sown;
Around the peasant's humble duty
Or weary grandeurs of a throne。
Transfused through hearts in future ages;
Thy glowing power anew may shine
Effulgent in the poets' pages
Or music's harmony divine。
But not to thee from future glory
Can shine one added charm or day;
Sweet is thy life's unwritten story
Of radiant bloom and swift decay。
Give; then; to vagrant winds thy sweetness;
Shine; tearful; in the summer shower;
And; heedless of thy season's fleetness;
Enrich with joy the passing hour。
Mrs。 James Glenny Wilson。
Fairyland
Do you remember that careless band;
Riding o'er meadow and wet sea…sand;
One autumn day; in a mist of sunshine;
Joyously seeking for fairyland?
The wind in the tree…tops was scarcely heard;
The streamlet repeated its one silver word;
And far away; o'er the depths of wood…land;
Floated the bell of the parson…bird。
Pale hoar…frost glittered in shady slips;
Where ferns were dipping their finger…tips;
From mossy branches a faint perfume
Breathed o'er honeyed Clematis lips。
At last we climbed to the ridge on high
Ah; crystal vision! Dreamland nigh!
Far; far below us; the wide Pacific
Slumbered in azure from sky to sky。
And cloud and shadow; across the deep
Wavered; or paused in enchanted sleep;
And eastward; the purple…misted islets
Fretted the wave with terrace and steep。
We looked on the tranquil; glassy bay;
On headlands sheeted in dazzling spray;
And the whitening ribs of a wreck forlorn
That for twenty years had wasted away。
All was so calm; and pure and fair;
It seemed the hour of worship there;
Silent; as where the great North…Minster
Rises for ever; a visible prayer。
Then we turned from the murmurous forest…land;
And rode over shingle and silver sand;
For so fair was the earth in the golden autumn;
That we sought no farther for Fairyland。
A Winter Daybreak
From the dark gorge; where burns the morning star;
I hear the glacier river rattling on
And sweeping o'er his ice…ploughed shingle…bar;
While wood owls shout in sombre unison;
And fluttering southern dancers glide and go;
And black swan's airy trumpets wildly; sweetly blow。
The cock crows in the windy winter morn;
Then must I rise and fling the curtain by。
All dark! But for a strip of fiery sky
Behind the ragged mountains; peaked and torn。
One planet glitters in the icy cold;
Poised like a hawk above the frozen peaks;
And now again the wild nor'…wester speaks;
And bends the cypress; shuddering; to his fold;
While every timber; every casement creaks。
But still the skylarks sing aloud and bold;
The wooded hills arise; the white cascade
Shakes with wild laughter all the silent shadowy glade。
Now from the shuttered east a silvery bar
Shines through the mist; and shows the mild daystar。
The storm…wrapped peaks start out and fade again;
And rosy vapours skirt the pastoral plain;
The garden paths with hoary rime are wet;
And sweetly breathes the winter violet;
The jonquil half unfolds her ivory cup;
With clouds of gold…eyed daisies waking up。
Pleasant it is to turn and see the fire
Dance on the hearth; as he would never tire;
The home…baked loaf; the Indian bean's perfume;
Fill with their homely cheer the panelled room。
Come; crazy storm! And thou; wild glittering hail;
Rave o'er the roof and wave your icy veil;
Shout in our ears and take your madcap way!
I laugh at storms! for Roderick comes to…day。
The Lark's Song
The morning is wild and dark;
The night mist runs on the vale;
Bright Lucifer dies to a spark;
And the wind whistles up for a gale。
And stormy the day may be
Th