poems and songs-第12节
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A dried and worldly heart；
When some that look can only see
The cold； the barren part！
The Miser； full with thoughts of gain；
The meanest of his race；
May in his breast some verdure hide；
Though none that verdure trace。
Where time…worn cliffs were jutting out；
With rough and ragged edges；
The snowy mountain…lily slept
Behind the earthy ledges；
Page： 57
Like some sweet Oriental Maid；
Who blindly deems it duty
To wear a veil before her face；
And hide her peerless beauty；
Or like to Innocence that thrives
In midst of sin and sorrows；
Nor from the cheerless scene around
The least infection borrows；
But stayeth out her mortal life …
Though in that lifetime lonely …
With Virtue's lustre round her heart；
And Virtue's lustre only。
A patch of sunshine here and there
Lay on a leaf…strewn water…pool；
Whose tribute trickled down the rocks
In gurgling ripples； clear and cool！
As iguanas； from the clefts；
Would steal along with rustling sound；
To where the restless eddies roamed
Amongst the arrowy rushes round。
While； scanning them with angry eyes
From off a fallen myrtle log
That branchless bridged the brushy creek；
There stood and barked； a Shepherd's Dog！
And underneath a neighbouring mass
Of wattles intertwining；
His Master lay … his back against
The grassy banks reclining。
Beneath the shade of ironbarks；
Stretched o'er the valley's sloping bed …
Half hidden in a tea…tree scrub；
A flock of dusky sheep were spread；
And fitful bleating faintly came
On every joyous breath of wind；
That up the stony hills would fly；
And leave the hollows far behind！
Wild tones of music from the Creek
Were intermingling with the breeze；
The loud； rich lays of countless birds
Perched on the dark mimosa trees；
Page： 58
Those merry birds； with wings of light
Which rival every golden ray
Out…flashing from the lamps of Night；
Or streaming o'er the brow of Day。
Amongst the gnarly apple…trees；
A gorgeous tribe of parrots came；
And screaming； leapt from bough to bough；
Like living jets of crimson flame！
And where the hillside…growing gums
Their web…like foliage upward threw；
Old Nature rang with echoes from
The loud…voiced mountain cockatoo；
And a thousand nameless twittering things；
Between the rustling sapling sprays；
Were flashing through the fragrant leaves；
And dancing like to fabled fays；
Rejoicing in the glorious light
That beauteous Morning had unfurled
To make the heart of Nature glad；
And clothe with smiles a weeping World。
THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND
（New Words to an Old Air。）
WITH sweet Regret … （the dearest thing that Yesterday has left us） …
We often turn our homeless eyes to scenes whence Fate has reft us。
Here sitting by a fading flame； wild waifs of song remind me
Of Annie with her gentle ways； the Girl I left behind me。
I stood beside the surging sea； with lips of silent passion …
I faced you by the surging sea； O brows of mild repression！
I never said … ‘‘my darling； stay！'' … the moments seemed to bind me
To something stifling all my words for the Girl I left behind me。
The pathos worn by common things … by every wayside flower；
Or Autumn leaf on lonely winds； revives the parting hour。
Page： 59
Ye swooning thoughts without a voice … ye tears which rose to blind me；
Why did she fade into the Dark； the Girl I left behind me。
At night they always come to me； the tender and true…hearted；
And in my dreams we join again the hands which now are parted；
And； looking through the gates of Sleep； the pleasant Moon doth find me
For ever wandering with my Love； the Girl I left behind me。
You know my life is incomplete； O far…off faint Ideal！
When shall I reach you from a depth of darkness which is real？
So I may mingle； soul in soul； with her that Heaven assigned me；
So she may lean upon my love； the Girl I left behind me。
AMONGST THE ROSES
I WALKED through a Forest； beneath the hot noon；
On Etheline calling and calling！
One said： ‘‘She will hear you and come to you soon；
When the coolness； my brother； is falling。''
But I whispered： ‘‘O Darling； I falter with pain！''
And the thirsty leaves rustled； and hissed for the rain；
Where a wayfarer halted and slept on the plain；
And dreamt of a garden of Roses！
Of a cool sweet place；
And a nestling face
In a dance and a dazzle of Roses。
In the drouth of a Desert； outwearied； I wept；
O Etheline； darkened with dolours！
But； folded in sunset； how long have you slept
By the Roses all reeling with colours？
A tree from its tresses a blossom did shake；
It fell on her face； and I feared she would wake；
So I brushed it away for her sweet sake；
In that garden of beautiful Roses！
In the dreamy perfumes
From ripe…red blooms
In a dance and a dazzle of Roses。
Page： 60
SUNSET
IT is better； O day； that you go to your rest；
For you go like a guest who was loth to remain！
Swing open； ye gates of the east and the west；
And let out the wild shadows … the night and the rain。
Ye winds； ye are dead； with your voices attuned；
That thrilled the green life in the sweet…scented sheaves；
When I touched a warm hand which has faded； and swooned
To a trance of the darkness； and blight on the leaves。
I had studied the lore in her maiden…like ways；
And the large…hearted love of my Annie was won；
'Ere Summer had passed into passionate days；
Or Autumn made ready her fruits for the Sun。
So my life was complete； and the hours that went by；
And the moon and the willow…wooed waters around；
Might have known that we rested； my Annie and I；
In happiness calm as the slumber of sound。
On Sundays we wandered； as glad as a breeze；
By the rocks and the waves on a glittering beach；
Or we loitered in gardens melodious with bees；
And sucked the sweet pulp of the plum and the peach。
‘‘The Forest will show me the secrets of Fame；''
I said to myself in the gum…shadowed glen；
‘‘I will call every blossom and tree by its name；
And the people shall deem me a man of the men。
‘‘I will gather Roses of Sharon； my Soul； …
The Roses of Sharon so cool and so sweet；
And our brothers shall see me entwining the whole
For a garland to drop at my dear Annie's feet。''
It is better； O day； that you go to your rest；
For you go like a guest who was loth to remain！
Swing open； ye gates of the east and the west；
And let out the wild shadows … the night and the rain。
Page： 61
DOUBTING
A BROTHER wandered forth with me；
Beside a barren beach：
He harped on things beyond the sea；
And out of reach。
He hinted once of unknown skies；
And then I would not hark；
But turned away from steadfast eyes；
Into the dark。
And said … ‘‘an ancient faith is dead
And wonder fills my mind：
I marvel how the blind have led
So long the blind。
‘‘Behold this truth we only know
That night is on the land！
And we a weary way must go
To find God's hand。''
I wept … ‘‘Our fathers told us； Lord；
That Thou wert kind and just；
But lo！ our wailings fly abroad
For broken trust。
‘‘How many evil ones are here
Who mocking go about；
Because we are too faint with fear
To wrestle Doubt！
‘‘Thy riddles are beyond the ken
Of creatures of the sod：
Remember that we are but men；
And Thou art God！
‘‘O； doting world； methinks your stay
Is weaker than a reed！
Our Father turns His face away；
'Tis dark indeed。''
Page： 62
The evening woods lay huddled there；
All wrapped in silence strange：
A sudden wind … and lo！ the air
Was filled with change。
‘‘Your words are wild；'' my brother said；
‘‘For God's voice fills the breeze；
Go … hide yourself； as Adam did；
Amongst the trees。
‘‘I pluck the shoes from off my feet；
But dare to look around；
Behold；'' he said； ‘‘my Lord I greet；
On holy ground！‘‘
And God spake through the wind to me …
‘‘Shake off that gloom of Fear；
You fainting soul who could not see
That I was near。
‘‘Why vex me crying day and night？ …
Yo
