an anthology of australian verse-第11节
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And make me hideous in my neighbours' eyes。
But let me fall not in mine own esteem；
By poor deceit or selfish greed debased。
Let me be clean from secret stain and shame；
Know myself true； though false as hell I seem
Know myself worthy； howsoe'er disgraced
Know myself right； though every tongue should blame。
Despair
Alone！ Alone！ No beacon； far or near！
No chart； no compass； and no anchor stay！
Like melting fog the mirage melts away
In all…surrounding darkness； void and clear。
Drifting； I spread vain hands； and vainly peer
And vainly call for pilot； weep and pray；
Beyond these limits not the faintest ray
Shows distant coast whereto the lost may steer。
O what is life； if we must hold it thus
As wind…blown sparks hold momentary fire？
What are these gifts without the larger boon？
O what is art； or wealth； or fame to us
Who scarce have time to know what we desire？
O what is love； if we must part so soon？
Faith
And is the great cause lost beyond recall？
Have all the hopes of ages come to naught？
Is life no more with noble meaning fraught？
Is life but death； and love its funeral pall？
Maybe。 And still on bended knees I fall；
Filled with a faith no preacher ever taught。
O God MY God by no false prophet wrought
I believe still； in despite of it all！
Let go the myths and creeds of groping men。
This clay knows naught the Potter understands。
I own that Power divine beyond my ken；
And still can leave me in His shaping hands。
But； O my God； that madest me to feel；
Forgive the anguish of the turning wheel！
Alexander Bathgate。
The Clematis
Fair crown of stars of purest ray；
Hung aloft on Mapau tree；
What floral beauties ye display；
Stars of snowy purity；
Around the dark…leaved mapau's head
Unsullied garlands ye have spread。
Concealed were all thy beauties rare
'Neath the dark umbrageous shade；
But still to gain the loftiest spray；
Thy weak stem its efforts made；
Now； every obstacle o'ercome；
Thou smilest from thy leafy home。
That home secure； 'mid sombre leaves
Yielded by thy stalwart spouse；
Helps thee to show thy fairy crown；
Decorates his dusky boughs：
His strength； thy beauty； both unite
And form a picture to delight。
Fair flower； methinks thou dost afford
Emblem of a perfect wife；
Whose work is hidden from the world；
Till； perchance； her husband's life
Is by her influence beautified；
And this by others is descried。
Philip Joseph Holdsworth。
Quis Separabit？
All my life's short years had been stern and sterile
I stood like one whom the blasts blow back
As with shipmen whirled through the straits of Peril；
So fierce foes menaced my every track。
But I steeled my soul to a strong endeavour；
I bared my brow as the sharp strokes fell；
And I said to my heart 〃Hope on！ Hope ever：
Have Courage Courage； and all is well。〃
Then； bright as the blood in my heart's rich chalice；
O Blossom； Blossom！ you came from far；
And life rang joy； till the World's loud malice
Shrilled to the edge of our utmost star。
And I said： 〃On me let the rough storms hurtle；
The great clouds gather and shroud my sun
But you shall be Queen where the rose and myrtle
Laugh with the year till the year is done。〃
So my Dream fell dead； and the fluctuant passion
The stress and strain of the past re…grew；
The world laughed on in its heedless fashion；
But Earth whirled worthless； because of you！
In that Lake of Tears which my grief discovered；
I laid dead Love with a passionate kiss；
And over those soundless depths has hovered
The sweet； sad wraith of my vanished bliss。
Heart clings to Heart let the strange years sever
The fates of two who had met to part；
Love's strength survives； and the harsh world never
Shall crush the passion of heart for heart；
For I know my life； though it droop and dwindle；
Shall leave me Love till I fade and die；
And when hereafter our Souls re…kindle；
Who shall be fonder You or I？
My Queen of Dreams
In the warm flushed heart of the rose…red west；
When the great sun quivered and died to…day；
You pulsed； O star； by yon pine…clad crest
And throbbed till the bright eve ashened grey
Then I saw you swim
By the shadowy rim
Where the grey gum dips to the western plain；
And you rayed delight
As you winged your flight
To the mystic spheres where your kinsmen reign。
O star； did you see her？ My queen of dreams！
Was it you that glimmered the night we strayed
A month ago by these scented streams？
Half…checked by the litter the musk…buds made？
Did you sleep or wake？
Ah； for Love's sweet sake
（Though the world should fail and the soft stars wane！）
I shall dream delight
Till our souls take flight
To the mystic spheres where your kinsmen reign！
Mary Hannay Foott。
Where the Pelican Builds
The horses were ready； the rails were down；
But the riders lingered still
One had a parting word to say；
And one had his pipe to fill。
Then they mounted； one with a granted prayer；
And one with a grief unguessed。
〃We are going；〃 they said； as they rode away
〃Where the pelican builds her nest！〃
They had told us of pastures wide and green；
To be sought past the sunset's glow；
Of rifts in the ranges by opal lit；
And gold 'neath the river's flow。
And thirst and hunger were banished words
When they spoke of that unknown West；
No drought they dreaded； no flood they feared；
Where the pelican builds her nest！
The creek at the ford was but fetlock deep
When we watched them crossing there；
The rains have replenished it thrice since then；
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
