an anthology of australian verse-第15节
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How linked in Life and Death are they
The Shamrock and the Cross。
The gravestones face the Golden East；
And in the morn they take
The blessing of the Great High Priest；
Before the living wake。
Who was she？ Never ask her name；
Her beauty and her grace
Have passed； with her poor little shame；
Into the Silent Place。
In Avonaise； in Avonaise；
Where all is dead and done；
The folk who rest there all their days
Care not for moon or sun。
They care not； when the living pass；
Whether they sigh or smile；
They hear above their graves the grass
That sighs 〃A little while！〃
A white stone marks her small green bed
With 〃Anna〃 and 〃Adieu〃。
Madonna Mary； rest her head
On your dear lap of blue！
The Night Ride
The red sun on the lonely lands
Gazed； under clouds of rose；
As one who under knitted hands
Takes one last look and goes。
Then Pain； with her white sister Fear；
Crept nearer to my bed：
〃The sands are running； dost thou hear
Thy sobbing heart？〃 she said。
There came a rider to the gate；
And stern and clear spake he：
〃For meat or drink thou must not wait；
But rise and ride with me。〃
I waited not for meat or drink；
Or kiss； or farewell kind
But oh！ my heart was sore to think
Of friends I left behind。
We rode o'er hills that seemed to sweep
Skyward like swelling waves；
The living stirred not in their sleep；
The dead slept in their graves。
And ever as we rode I heard
A moan of anguish sore
No voice of man or beast or bird；
But all of these and more。
〃Is it the moaning of the Earth？
Dark Rider； answer me！〃
〃It is the cry of life at birth〃
He answered quietly：
〃But thou canst turn a face of cheer
To good days still in store；
Thou needst not care for Pain or Fear
They cannot harm thee more。〃
Yet I rode on with sullen heart；
And said with breaking breath；
〃If thou art he I think thou art；
Then slay me now； O Death！〃
The veil was from my eyesight drawn
〃Thou knowest now；〃 said he：
〃I am the Angel of the Dawn！
Ride back； and wait for me。〃
So I rode back at morning light；
And there； beside my bed；
Fear had become a lily white
And Pain a rose of red。
Alice Werner。
Bannerman of the Dandenong
I rode through the Bush in the burning noon；
Over the hills to my bride；
The track was rough and the way was long；
And Bannerman of the Dandenong；
He rode along by my side。
A day's march off my Beautiful dwelt；
By the Murray streams in the West；
Lightly lilting a gay love…song
Rode Bannerman of the Dandenong；
With a blood…red rose on his breast。
〃Red； red rose of the Western streams〃
Was the song he sang that day
Truest comrade in hour of need；
Bay Mathinna his peerless steed
I had my own good grey。
There fell a spark on the upland grass
The dry Bush leapt into flame；
And I felt my heart go cold as death；
And Bannerman smiled and caught his breath；
But I heard him name Her name。
Down the hill…side the fire…floods rushed；
On the roaring eastern wind；
Neck and neck was the reckless race；
Ever the bay mare kept her pace；
But the grey horse dropped behind。
He turned in the saddle 〃Let's change； I say！〃
And his bridle rein he drew。
He sprang to the ground； 〃Look sharp！〃 he said
With a backward toss of his curly head
〃I ride lighter than you！〃
Down and up it was quickly done
No words to waste that day！
Swift as a swallow she sped along；
The good bay mare from Dandenong；
And Bannerman rode the grey。
The hot air scorched like a furnace blast
From the very mouth of Hell：
The blue gums caught and blazed on high
Like flaming pillars into the sky； 。 。 。
The grey horse staggered and fell。
〃Ride； ride； lad； ride for her sake！〃 he cried；
Into the gulf of flame
Were swept； in less than a breathing space
The laughing eyes； and the comely face；
And the lips that named HER name。
She bore me bravely； the good bay mare；
Stunned； and dizzy and blind；
I heard the sound of a mingling roar
'Twas the Lachlan River that rushed before；
And the flames that rolled behind。
Safe safe； at Nammoora gate；
I fell； and lay like a stone。
O love！ thine arms were about me then；
Thy warm tears called me to life again；
But O God！ that I came alone！
We dwell in peace； my beautiful one
And I； by the streams in the West；
But oft through the mist of my dreams along
Rides Bannerman of the Dandenong；
With the blood…red rose on his breast。
Ethel Castilla。
An Australian Girl
〃She's pretty to walk with；
And witty to talk with；
And pleasant； too； to think on。〃
Sir John Suckling。
She has a beauty of her own；
A beauty of a paler tone
Than English belles；
Yet southern sun and southern air
Have kissed her cheeks； until they wear
The dainty tints that oft appear
On rosy shells。
Her frank； clear eyes bespeak a mind
Old…world traditions fail to bind。
She is not shy
Or bold； but simply self…possessed；
Her independence adds a zest
Unto her speech； her piquant jest；
Her quaint reply。
O'er classic volumes she will pore
With joy； and true scholastic lore
Will often gain。
In sports she bears away the bell；
Nor； under music's siren spell；
To dance divinely； flirt as well；
Does she disdain。
A Song of Sydney
（1894）
High headlands all jealously hide thee；
O fairest of sea…girdled towns！
Thine Ocean…spouse smileth beside thee；
While each headland threatens and frowns。
Like Venice； upheld on sea…pinion；
And fated to reign o'er the free；
Thou wearest； in sign of dominion；
The zone of the sea。
No winter thy fertile slope hardens；
O new Florence； set in the South！
All lands give their flowers to thy gardens；
That glow to thy bright harbour's mouth；
The waratah and England's red roses
With stately magnolias entwine；
Gay sunflowers fill sea…scented closes；
All sweet with woodbine。
Thy harbour's fair flower…crowned islands
See flags of all countries unfurled；
Thou smilest from green； sunlit highlands
To open thine arms to the world！
Dark East's and fair West's emulations
Resound from each hill…shadowed quay；
And over the songs of all nations；
The voice of the sea。
Francis William Lauderdale Adams。
Something
It is something in this darker dream demented
to have wrestled with its pleasure and its pain：
it is something to have sinned； and have repented：
it is something to have failed； and tried again！
It is something to have loved the brightest Beauty
with no hope of aught but silence for your vow：
it is something to have tried to do your duty：
it is something to be trying； trying now！
And； in the silent solemn hours；
when your soul floats down the far faint flood of time
to think of Earth's lovers who are ours；
of her saviours saving； suffering； sublime：
And that you with THESE may be her lover；
with THESE may save and suffer for her sake
IT IS JOY TO HAVE LIVED； SO TO DISCOVER
YOU'VE A LIFE YOU CAN GIVE AND SHE CAN TAKE！
Gordon's Grave
All the heat and the glow and the hush
of the summer afternoon；
the scent of the sweet…briar bush
over bowing grass…blades and broom；
the birds that flit and pass；
singing the song he knows；
the grass…hopper in the grass；
the voice of the she…oak boughs。
Ah； and the shattered column
crowned with the poet's wreath。
Who； who keeps silent and solemn
his passing place beneath？
~This was a poet that loved God's breath；
his life was a passionate quest；
he looked down deep in the wells of death；
and now he is taking his rest。~
To A。 L。 Gordon
In night…long days； in aeons
where all Time's nights are one；
where life and death sing paeans
as of Greeks and Galileans；
never begun or done；
where fate； the slow swooping condor；
comes glooming all the sky
as you have pondered I ponder；
as you have wandered I wander；
as you have died； shall I die？
Love and Death
Death？ is it death you give？ So be it！ O Death；
thou hast been long my friend； and now thy pale
cool cheek shall have my kiss； while the faint breath
expires on thy still lips； O lovely Death！
Come then； loose hands； fair Life； without a wail！
We've had good hours together； and you were sweet
what time love whispered with the nightingale；
tho' ever your music by the lark's would fail。
Come then； loose hands！ Our lover time is done。
Now is the marriage with the eternal sun。
The hours ar
