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They rend the air； like cries of despair；
The screams of the wild Curlew！
They rend the air；
Like cries of despair；
The screams of the wild Curlew！
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 BALLAD OF TANNA
She knelt by the dead； in her passionate grief；
Beneath a weird forest of Tanna；
She kissed the stern brow of her father and chief；
And cursed the dark race of Alkanna。
With faces as wild as the clouds in the rain；
The sons of Kerrara came down to the plain；
And spoke to the mourner and buried the slain。
Oh； the glory that died with Deloya！
‘‘Wahina；'' they whispered； ‘‘Alkanna lies low；
And the ghost of thy sire hath been gladdened；
For the men of his people have fought with the foe
Till the rivers of Warra are reddened！''
She lifted her eyes to the glimmering hill；
Then spoke； with a voice like a musical rill；
‘‘The time is too short； can I sojourn here still？''
Oh； the Youth that was sad for Deloya！
‘‘Wahina； why linger；'' Annatanam said；
‘‘When the tent of a chieftain is lonely？
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There are others who grieve for the light that has fled；
And one who waits here for you only！''
‘‘Go … leave me！'' she cried。 ‘‘I would fain be alone；
I must stay where the trees and the wild waters moan；
For my heart is as cold as a wave…beaten stone。''
Oh； the Beauty that was broke for Deloya！
‘‘Wahina； why weep o'er a handful of dust；
When the souls of the brave are approaching？
Oh； look to the fires that are lit for the just；
And the mighty who sleep in Arrochin！''
But she turned from the glare of the flame…smitten sea；
And a cry； like a whirlwind； came over the lea …
‘‘Away to the mountains and leave her with me！''
Oh； the heart that was broke for Deloya！
THE RAIN COMES SOBBING TO THE DOOR
THE night grows dark； and weird； and cold； and thick drops patter on the pane；
There comes a wailing from the sea； the wind is weary of the rain。
The red coals click beneath the flame； and see； with slow and silent feet
The hooded shadows cross the woods to where the twilight waters beat！
Now； fan…wise from the ruddy fire； a brilliance sweeps athwart the floor；
As； streaming down the lattices； the rain comes sobbing to the door：
As； streaming down the lattices；
The rain comes sobbing to the door。
Dull echoes round the casement fall； and through the empty chambers go；
Like forms unseen whom we can hear on tip…toe stealing to and fro。
But fill your glasses to the brims； and； through a mist of smiles and tears；
Our eyes shall tell how much we love to toast the shades of other years！
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And hither they will flock again； the ghosts of things that are no more；
While； streaming down the lattices； the rain comes sobbing to the door：
While； streaming down the lattices；
The rain comes sobbing to the door。
The tempest…trodden wastelands moan … the trees are threshing at the blast；
And now they come； the pallid shapes of Dreams that perished in the past；
And； when we lift the windows up； a smothered whisper round us strays；
Like some lone wandering voice from graves
that hold the wrecks of bygone days。
I tell ye that I love the storm； for think we not of thoughts of yore；
When； streaming down the lattices； the rain comes sobbing to the door？
When； streaming down the lattices；
The rain comes sobbing to the door？
We'll drink to those we sadly miss； and sing some mournful song we know；
Since they may chance to hear it all； and muse on friends they've left below。
Who knows … if souls in bliss can leave the borders of their Eden…home …
But that some loving one may now about the ancient threshold roam？
Oh； like an exile； he would hail a glimpse of the familiar floor；
Though； streaming down the lattices； the rain comes sobbing to the door！
Though； streaming down the lattices；
The rain comes sobbing to the door！
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URARA
Note：Another spelling of Orara； a tributary of the river Clarence。
EUROKA； go over the tops of the hill；
For the Death…clouds have passed us to…day；
And we'll cry in the dark for the foot…falls still；
And the tracks which are fading away！
Let them yell to their lubras； the Bulginbah dogs；
And say how our brothers were slain；
We shall wipe out our grief in the blood of their chief；
And twenty more dead on the plain …
On the blood…spattered spurs of the plain！
But the low winds sigh；
And the dead leaves fly；
Where our warriors lie；
In the dingoes' den … in the white…cedar glen
On the banks of the gloomy Urara！
Urara！ Urara！
On the banks of the gloomy Urara！
The Wallaroos grope through the tufts of the grass；
And crawl to their coverts for fear；
But we'll sit in the ashes and let them pass
Where the boomerangs sleep with the spear！
Oh！ our hearts will be lonely and low to…night
When we think of the hunts of yore；
And the foes that we sought； and the fights which we fought；
With those who will battle no more …
Who will go to the battle no more！
For the dull winds sigh；
And the dead leaves fly；
Where our warriors lie；
In the dingoes' den … in the white…cedar glen
On the banks of the gloomy Urara！
Urara！ Urara！
On the banks of the gloomy Urara！
Oh！ the gorges and gullies are black with crows；
And they feast on the flesh of the brave；
But the forest is loud with the howls of our foes
For those whom they never can save！
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Let us crouch with our faces down to our knees；
And hide in the dark of our hair；
For we will not return where the camp…fires burn；
And see what is smouldering there …
What is smouldering； mouldering there！
Where the sad winds sigh …
The dead leaves fly；
And our warriors lie；
In the dingoes' den … in the white…cedar glen
On the banks of the gloomy Urara！
Urara！ Urara！
On the banks of the gloomy Urara！
EVENING HYMN
THE crag…pent breezes sob and moan where hidden waters glide；
And twilight wanders round the earth with slow and shadowy stride。
The gleaming clouds； above the brows of western steeps uphurled；
Look like the spires of some fair town that bounds a brighter world。
Lo； from the depths of yonder wood； where many a blind creek strays；
The pure Australian moon comes forth； enwreathed with silver haze。
The rainy mists are trooping down the folding hills behind；
And distant torrent…voices rise like bells upon the wind。
The echeu's* songs are dying； with the flute…bird's mellow tone；
And night recalls the gloomy owl to rove the wilds alone；
Night； holy night； in robes of blue； with golden stars encrowned；
Ascending mountains like to walls that hem an E