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And rich warm gleams from golden dreams；
All glorious in their summer shine；
And songs of half forgotten hours；
And many a sweet melodious strain；
Which still shall rise
Beneath the skies
When all things else have died again。
A white sail glimmers out at sea …
A vessel walking in her sleep；
Some Power goes past
That bends the mast；
While frighted waves to leeward leap。
The moonshine veils the naked sand
And ripples upward with the tide；
As underground there rolls a sound
From where the caverned waters glide。
A face that bears affection's glow；
The soul that speaks from gentle eyes；
And joy which slips
From loving lips
Have made this spot my Paradise！
ETHELINE
The heart that once was rich with light；
And happy in your grace；
Now lieth cold beneath the scorn
That gathers on your face；
Page： 8
And every joy it knew before；
And every templed dream；
Is paler than the dying flash
On yonder mountain stream。
The soul； regretting foundered bliss
Amid the wreck of years；
Hath mourned it with intensity
Too deep for human tears！
The forest fadeth underneath
The blast that rushes by …
The dripping leaves are white with death；
But Love will never die！
We both have seen the starry moss
That clings where Ruin reigns；
And one must know his lonely breast
Affection still retains；
Through all the sweetest hopes of life；
That clustered round and round；
Are lying now； like withered things；
Forsaken … on the ground。
'Tis hard to think of what we were；
And what we might have been；
Had not an evil spirit crept
Across the tranquil scene：
Had fervent feelings in your soul
Not failed nor ceased to shine
As pure as those existing on；
And burning still in mine。
Had every treasure at your feet
That I was wont to pour；
Been never thrown like worthless weeds
Upon a barren shore！
The bitter edge of grief has passed；
I would not now upbraid；
Or count to you the broken vows；
So often idly made！
I would not cross your path to chase
The falsehood from your brow …
I know； with all that borrowed light；
You are not happy now：
Page： 9
Since those that once have trampled down
Affection's early claim；
Have lost a peace they need not hope
To find on earth again。
AILEEN
A SPLENDID sun betwixt the trees
Long spikes of flame did shoot；
When turning to the fragrant South；
With longing eyes and burning mouth；
I stretched a hand athwart the drouth；
And plucked at cooling fruit。
So thirst was quenched； and hastening on
With strength returned to me；
I set my face against the noon；
And reached a denser forest soon；
Which dipped into a still lagoon
Hard by the sooming sea。
All day the ocean beat on bar
And bank of gleaming sand；
Yet that lone pool was always mild；
It never moved when waves were wild；
But slumbered； like a quiet child；
Upon the lap of land。
And when I rested on the brink；
Amongst the fallen flowers；
I lay in calm； no leaves were stirred
By breath of wind； or wing of bird；
It was so still； you might have heard
The footfalls of the hours。
Faint slumbrous scents of roses filled
The air which covered me：
My words were low … ‘‘she loved them so；
In Eden vales such odours blow：
How strange it is that roses grow
So near the shores of Sea！''
Page： 10
A sweeter fragrance never came
Across the Fields of Yore！
And when I said … ‘‘we here would dwell；'' …
A low voice on the silence fell …
‘‘Ah！ if you loved the roses well；
You loved Aileen the more。''
‘‘Ay； that I did； and now would turn；
And fall and worship her！
But Oh； you dwell so far … so high！
One cannot reach； though he may try；
The Morning land； and Jasper sky …
The balmy hills of Myrrh。
‘‘Why vex me with delicious hints
Of fairest face； and rarest blooms；
You Spirit of a darling Dream
Which links itself with every theme
And thought of mine by surf or stream；
In glens … or caverned glooms？''
She said； ‘‘thy wishes led me down；
From amaranthine bowers：
And since my face was haunting thee
With roses （dear which used to be）；
They all have hither followed me；
The scents and shapes of flowers。''
‘‘Then stay； mine own evangel； stay！
Or； going； take me too；
But let me sojourn by your side；
If here we dwell or there abide；
It matters not！'' I madly cried …
‘‘I only care for you。''
Oh； glittering Form that would not stay！ …
Oh； sudden； sighing breeze！
A fainting rainbow dropped below
Far gleaming peaks and walls of snow
And there； a weary way； I go；
Towards the Sunrise seas。
Page： 11
KOOROORA
THE gums in the gully stand gloomy and stark；
A torrent beneath them is leaping；
And the wind goes about like a ghost in the dark
Where a chief of Wahibbi lies sleeping！
He dreams of a battle … of foes of the past；
But he hears not the whooping abroad on the blast；
Nor the fall of the feet that are travelling fast。
Oh； why dost thou slumber； Kooroora？
They come o'er the hills in their terrible ire；
And speed by the woodlands and water；
They look down the hills at the flickering fire；
All eager and thirsty for slaughter。
Lo！ the stormy moon glares like a torch from the vale；
And a voice in the belah grows wild in its wail；
As the cries of the Wanneroos swell with the gale …
Oh！ rouse thee and meet them； Kooroora！
He starts from his sleep and he clutches his spear；
And the echoes roll backward in wonder；
For a shouting strikes into the hollow woods near；
Like the sound of a gathering thunder。
He clambers the ridge； with his face to the light；
The foes of Wahibbi come full in his sight …
The waters of Mooki will redden to…night。
Go！ and glory awaits thee； Kooroora！
Lo！ yeelamans splinter and boomerangs clash；
And a spear through the darkness is driven …
It whizzes along like a wandering flash
From the heart of a hurricane riven。
They turn to the mountains； that gloomy…browed band；
The rain droppeth down with a moan to the land；
And the face of a chieftain lies buried in sand …
Oh； the light that was quenched with Kooroora！
To…morrow the Wanneroo dogs will rejoice；
And feast in this desolate valley；
But where are his brothers … the friends of his choice；
And why art thou absent； Ewalli？
Page： 12
Now silence draws back to the forest again；
And the wind； like a wayfarer； sleeps on the plain；
But the cheeks of a warrior bleach in the rain。
Oh！ where are thy mourners； Kooroora？
FAINTING BY THE WAY
SWARTHY wastelands； wide and woodless； glittering miles and miles away；
Where the south wind seldom wanders and the winters will not stay；
Lurid wastelands； pent in silence； thick with hot and thirsty sighs；
Where the scanty thorn…leaves twinkle with their haggard； hopeless eyes；
Furnaced wastelands； hunched with hillocks； like to stony billows rolled；
Where the naked flats lie swirling； like a sea of darkened gold；
Burning wastelands； glancing upward with a weird and vacant stare；
Where the languid heavens quiver o'er red depths of stirless air！
‘‘Oh； my brother； I am weary of this wildering waste of sand；
In the noontide we can never travel to the promised land！
Lo！ the desert broadens