按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Are ye not the sad memorials； telling of a mighty grief …
Dark with records ground and lettered into caverned rock and reef？
Oh！ ye show them； and I know them； and my thoughts in mourning go
Down amongst your sunless chasms； deep into the surf below！
Oh！ ye bear them； and declare them； and o'er every cleft and scar；
I have wept for dear dead brothers perished in the lost Dunbar！
Ye smitten … ye battered；
And splintered and shattered
Cliffs of the Sea！
Restless waves； so dim with dreams of sudden storms and gusty surge；
Roaring like a gathered whirlwind reeling round a mountain verge；
Were ye not like loosened maniacs； in the night when Beauty pale
Called upon her God； beseeching through the uproar of the gale？
Were ye not like maddened demons while young children faint with fear
Cried and cried and cried for succour； and no helping hand was near？
Oh； the sorrow of the morrow！ … lamentations near and far！ …
Oh； the sobs for dear dead sisters perished in the lost Dunbar！ …
Ye ruthless； unsated；
And hateful； and hated
Waves of the Sea！
Ay； we stooped and moaned in darkness …
eyes might strain and hearts might plead；
For their darlings crying wildly； they would never rise nor heed！
Ay； we yearned into their faces looking for the life in vain；
Wailing like to children blinded with a mist of sudden pain！
Dear hands clenched； and dear eyes rigid in a stern and stony stare；
Dear lips white from past affliction； dead to all our mad despair；
Ah； the groaning and the moaning … ah； the thoughts which rise in tears
When we turn to all those loved ones； looking backward five long years！
The fathers and mothers；
The sisters and brothers
Drowned at Sea！
MORNING IN THE BUSH
（A Juvenile Fragment）
ABOVE the skirts of yellow clouds；
The god…like Sun； arrayed
In blinding splendour； swiftly rose；
And looked athwart the glade；
The sleepy dingo watched him break
The bonds that curbed his flight；
And from his golden tresses shake
The fading gems of Night！
And wild goburras laughed aloud
Their merry morning songs；
As Echo answered in the depths
With a thousand thousand tongues；
The gully…depths where many a vine
Of ancient growth had crept；
To cluster round the hoary pine；
Where scanty mosses wept。
Huge stones； and damp and broken crags；
In wild chaotic heap；
Were lying at the barren base
Of the ferny hillside steep；
Between those fragments hollows lay；
Upfilled with fruitful ground；
Where many a modest floweret grew；
To scent the wind…breaths round；
As fertile patches bloom within
A dried and worldly heart；
When some that look can only see
The cold； the barren part！
The Miser； full with thoughts of gain；
The meanest of his race；
May in his breast some verdure hide；
Though none that verdure trace。
Where time…worn cliffs were jutting out；
With rough and ragged edges；
The snowy mountain…lily slept
Behind the earthy ledges；
Page： 57
Like some sweet Oriental Maid；
Who blindly deems it duty
To wear a veil before her face；
And hide her peerless beauty；
Or like to Innocence that thrives
In midst of sin and sorrows；
Nor from the cheerless scene around
The least infection borrows；
But stayeth out her mortal life …
Though in that lifetime lonely …
With Virtue's lustre round her heart；
And Virtue's lustre only。
A patch of sunshine here and there
Lay on a leaf…strewn water…pool；
Whose tribute trickled down the rocks
In gurgling ripples； clear and cool！
As iguanas； from the clefts；
Would steal along with rustling sound；
To where the restless eddies roamed
Amongst the arrowy rushes round。
While； scanning them with angry eyes
From off a fallen myrtle log
That branchless bridged the brushy creek；
There stood and barked； a Shepherd's Dog！
And underneath a neighbouring mass
Of wattles intertwining；
His Master lay … his back against
The grassy banks reclining。
Beneath the shade of ironbarks；
Stretched o'er the valley's sloping bed …
Half hidden in a tea…tree scrub；
A flock of dusky sheep were spread；
And fitful bleating faintly came
On every joyous breath of wind；
That up the stony hills would fly；
And leave the hollows far behind！
Wild tones of music from the Creek
Were intermingling with the breeze；
The loud； rich lays of countless birds
Perched on the dark mimosa trees；
Page： 58
Those merry birds； with wings of light
Which rival every golden ray
Out…flashing from the lamps of Night；
Or streaming o'er the brow of Day。
Amongst the gnarly apple…trees；
A gorgeous tribe of parrots came；
And screaming； leapt from bough to bough；
Like living jets of crimson flame！
And where the hillside…growing gums
Their web…like foliage upward threw；
Old Nature rang with echoes from
The loud…voiced mountain cockatoo；
And a thousand nameless twittering things；
Between the rustling sapling sprays；
Were flashing through the fragrant leaves；
And dancing like to fabled fays；
Rejoicing in the glorious light
That beauteous Morning had unfurled
To make the heart of Nature glad；
And clothe with smiles a weeping World。
THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND
（New Words to an Old Air。）
WITH sweet Regret … （the dearest thing that Yesterday has left us） …
We often turn our homeless eyes to scenes whence Fate has reft us。
Here sitting by a fading flame； wild waifs of song remind me
Of Annie with her gentle ways； the Girl I left behind me。
I stood beside the surging sea； with lips of silent passion …
I faced you by the surging sea； O brows of mild repression！
I never said … ‘‘my darling； stay！'' … the moments seemed to bind me
To something stifling all my words for the Girl I left behind me。
The pathos worn by common things … by every wayside flower；
Or Autumn leaf on lonely winds； revives the parting hour。
Page： 59
Ye swooning thoughts without a voice … ye tears which rose to blind me；
Why did she fade into the Dark； the Girl I left behind me。
At night they always come to me； the tender and true…hearted；
And in my dreams we join again the hands which now are parted；
And； looking through the gates of Sleep； the pleasant Moon doth find me
For ever wandering with my Love； the Girl I left behind me。
You know my life is incomplete； O far…off faint Ideal！
When shall I reach you from a depth of darkness which is real？
So I may mingle； soul in soul； with her that Heaven assigned me；
So she may lean upon my love； the Girl I left behind me。
AMONGST THE ROSES
I WALKED through a Forest； beneath the hot noon；
On Etheline calling and calling！
One said： ‘‘She will hear you and come to you soon；
When the coolness； my brother； is falling。''
But I whispered： ‘‘O Darling； I falter with pain！''
And the thirsty leaves rustled； and hissed for the rain；
Where a wayfarer halted and slept on the plain；
And dreamt of a garden of Roses！
Of a cool sweet place；
And a nestling face
In a dance and a dazzle of Roses。
In the drouth of a Desert； outwearied； I wept；
O Etheline； darkened with dolours！
But； folded in sunset； how long have you slept
By the Roses all reeling with colours？
A tree from its tresses a blossom did shake；
It fell on her f