an anthology of australian verse-第14节
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Then the fiery Scorpion vanished； the magpie's note was heard；
And the wind in the she…oak wavered； and the honeysuckles stirred；
The airy golden vapour rose from the river breast；
The kingfisher came darting out of his crannied nest；
And the bulrushes and reed…beds put off their sallow gray
And burnt with cloudy crimson at dawning of the day。
John Farrell。
Australia to England
June 22nd； 1897
What of the years of Englishmen？
What have they brought of growth and grace
Since mud…built London by its fen
Became the Briton's breeding…place？
What of the Village； where our blood
Was brewed by sires； half man； half brute；
In vessels of wild womanhood；
From blood of Saxon； Celt and Jute？
What are its gifts； this Harvest Home
Of English tilth and English cost；
Where fell the hamlet won by Rome
And rose the city that she lost？
O！ terrible and grand and strange
Beyond all phantasy that gleams
When Hope； asleep； sees radiant Change
Come to her through the halls of dreams！
A heaving sea of life； that beats
Like England's heart of pride to…day；
And up from roaring miles of streets
Flings on the roofs its human spray；
And fluttering miles of flags aflow；
And cannon's voice； and boom of bell；
And seas of fire to…night； as though
A hundred cities flamed and fell；
While； under many a fair festoon
And flowering crescent； set ablaze
With all the dyes that English June
Can lend to deck a day of days；
And past where mart and palace rise；
And shrine and temple lift their spears；
Below five million misted eyes
Goes a grey Queen of Sixty Years
Go lords； and servants of the lords
Of earth； with homage on their lips；
And kinsmen carrying English swords；
And offering England battle…ships；
And tribute…payers； on whose hands
Their English fetters scarce appear；
And gathered round from utmost lands
Ambassadors of Love and Fear！
Dim signs of greeting waved afar；
Far trumpets blown and flags unfurled；
And England's name an Avatar
Of light and sound throughout the world
Hailed Empress among nations； Queen
Enthroned in solemn majesty；
On splendid proofs of what has been；
And presages of what will be！
For this your sons； foreseeing not
Or heeding not； the aftermath；
Because their strenuous hearts were hot
Went first on many a cruel path；
And； trusting first and last to blows；
Fed death with such as would gainsay
Their instant passing； or oppose
With talk of Right strength's right of way！
For this their names are on the stone
Of mountain spires； and carven trees
That stand in flickering wastes unknown
Wait with their dying messages；
When fire blasts dance with desert drifts
The English bones show white below；
And； not so white； when summer lifts
The counterpane of Yukon's snow。
Condemned by blood to reach for grapes
That hang in sight； however high；
Beyond the smoke of Asian capes；
The nameless； dauntless； dead ones lie；
And where Sierran morning shines
On summits rolling out like waves；
By many a brow of royal pines
The noisiest find quiet graves。
By lust of flesh and lust of gold；
And depth of loins and hairy breadth
Of breast； and hands to take and hold；
And boastful scorn of pain and death；
And something more of manliness
Than tamer men； and growing shame
Of shameful things； and something less
Of final faith in sword and flame
By many a battle fought for wrong；
And many a battle fought for right；
So have you grown august and strong；
Magnificent in all men's sight
A voice for which the kings have ears；
A face the craftiest statesmen scan；
A mind to mould the after years；
And mint the destinies of man！
Red sins were yours： the avid greed
Of pirate fathers； smocked as Grace；
Sent Judas missioners to read
Christ's Word to many a feebler race
False priests of Truth who made their tryst
At Mammon's shrine； and reft or slew
Some hands you taught to pray to Christ
Have prayed His curse to rest on you！
Your way has been to pluck the blade
Too readily； and train the guns。
We here； apart and unafraid
Of envious foes； are but your sons：
We stretched a heedless hand to smutch
Our spotless flag with Murder's blight
For one less sacrilegious touch
God's vengeance blasted Uzza white！
You vaunted most of forts and fleets；
And courage proved in battle…feasts；
The courage of the beast that eats
His torn and quivering fellow…beasts；
Your pride of deadliest armament
What is it but the self…same dint
Of joy with which the Caveman bent
To shape a bloodier axe of flint？
But praise to you； and more than praise
And thankfulness； for some things done；
And blessedness； and length of days
As long as earth shall last； or sun！
You first among the peoples spoke
Sharp words and angry questionings
Which burst the bonds and shed the yoke
That made your men the slaves of Kings！
You set and showed the whole world's school
The lesson it will surely read；
That each one ruled has right to rule
The alphabet of Freedom's creed
Which slowly wins it proselytes
And makes uneasier many a throne；
You taught them all to prate of Rights
In language growing like your own！
And now your holiest and best
And wisest dream of such a tie
As； holding hearts from East to West；
Shall strengthen while the years go by：
And of a time when every man
For every fellow…man will do
His kindliest； working by the plan
God set him。 May the dream come true！
And greater dreams！ O Englishmen；
Be sure the safest time of all
For even the mightiest State is when
Not even the least desires its fall！
Make England stand supreme for aye；
Because supreme for peace and good；
Warned well by wrecks of yesterday
That strongest feet may slip in blood！
Arthur Patchett Martin。
Bushland
Not sweeter to the storm…tossed mariner
Is glimpse of home； where wife and children wait
To welcome him with kisses at the gate；
Than to the town…worn man the breezy stir
Of mountain winds on rugged pathless heights：
His long…pent soul drinks in the deep delights
That Nature hath in store。 The sun…kissed bay
Gleams thro' the grand old gnarled gum…tree boughs
Like burnished brass； the strong…winged bird of prey
Sweeps by； upon his lonely vengeful way
While over all； like breath of holy vows；
The sweet airs blow； and the high…vaulted sky
Looks down in pity this fair Summer day
On all poor earth…born creatures doomed to die。
Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen。
Under the Wattle
〃Why should not wattle do
For mistletoe？〃
Asked one they were but two
Where wattles grow。
He was her lover； too；
Who urged her so
〃Why should not wattle do
For mistletoe？〃
A rose…cheek rosier grew；
Rose…lips breathed low；
〃Since it is here； and YOU；
I hardly know
Why wattle should not do。〃
Victor James Daley。
Players
And after all and after all；
Our passionate prayers； and sighs； and tears；
Is life a reckless carnival？
And are they lost； our golden years？
Ah； no； ah； no； for； long ago；
Ere time could sear； or care could fret；
There was a youth called Romeo；
There was a maid named Juliet。
The players of the past are gone；
The races rise； the races pass；
And softly over all is drawn
The quiet Curtain of the Grass。
But when the world went wild with Spring；
What days we had！ Do you forget？
When I of all the world was King；
And you were my Queen Juliet？
The things that are； the things that seem
Who shall distinguish shape from show？
The great processional； splendid dream
Of life is all I wish to know。
The gods their faces turn away
From nations and their little wars；
But we our golden drama play
Before the footlights of the stars。
There lives though Time should cease to flow；
And stars their courses should forget
There lives a grey…haired Romeo；
Who loves a golden Juliet。
Anna
The pale discrowned stacks of maize；
Like spectres in the sun；
Stand shivering nigh Avonaise；
Where all is dead and gone。
The sere leaves make a music vain；
With melancholy chords；
Like cries from some old battle…plain；
Like clash of phantom swords。
But when the maize was lush and green
With musical green waves；
She went； its plumed ranks between；
Unto the hill of graves。
There you may see sweet flowers set
O'er damsels and o'er dames
Rose； Ellen； Mary； Margaret
The sweet old quiet names。
The gravestones show in long array；
Though white or green with moss；
How linked in Life and Death are they
The Shamrock and the Cross。
