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Ah！ you look but do not answer while I halt and question here；
Wondering why I am so happy； doubting that you are so near。
Sure these eyes with love are blinded； for your form is waxing faint；
And a dreamy splendour crowns it； like the halo round a saint！
When I talk of what we will be； and new aspirations throng；
Why are you so sadly silent； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong？''
But she faded into sunset； and the sunset passed from sight；
And I followed madly after； through the misty； moony night；
Crying； ‘‘do not leave me lonely！ Life has been so cold and drear；
You are all that God has left me； and I want you to be near！
Do not leave me in the darkness！ I have walked a weary way；
Listening for your truant footsteps … turn and stay； my darling； stay！''
But she came not though I waited； watching through a splendid haze；
Where the lovely Phantom halted ere she vanished from my gaze。
Then I thought that rain was falling； for there rose a stormy song；
And I woke in gloom and tempest； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong！
Page： 45
WATCHING
LIKE a beautiful face looking ever at me
A pure bright moon cometh over the sea；
And I stand on the crags； and hear the falls
Go tumbling down； through the black river…walls；
And the heart of the gorge is rent with the cry
Of the pent…up winds in their agony！
You are far from me； dear； where I watch and wait；
Like a weary bird for a long…lost mate；
And my life is as dull as the sluggish stream
Feeling its way through a world of dream；
For here is a waste of darkness and fear；
And I call and I call； but no one will hear！
O darling of mine； do you ever yearn
For a something lost； which will never return？
O darling of mine； on the grave of dead Hours；
Do you feel； like me； for a handful of flowers？
Through the glens of the Past； do you wander along；
Like a restless ghost that hath done a wrong？
And； lying alone； do you look from the drouth
Of a thirsty Life with a pleading mouth？
When the rain's on the roof； and the gales are abroad；
Do you wash with your tears the feet of your God？
Oh！ I know you do； and he sitteth alone；
Your wounded Love； while you mourn and moan …
Oh！ I know you do； and he never will leap
From his silence with smiles； while you weep … and weep！
Your coolness shake down； ye gathered green leaves；
For my spirit is faint with the love that it grieves！
Is there aught on the summit； O yearner through Night；
Aught on the summit which looks like the light；
When my soul is a…wearied and lone in the land；
Groping around will it touch a kind hand？
There are chasms between us as black as a pall；
But bring us together； O God over all！
And let me cast from me these fetters of Fear；
When I hear the glad singing of Faith so near；
For I know by the cheeks； which are pallid and wet；
And a listening life we shall mingle yet！
Page： 46
Oh！ then I will turn to those eloquent eyes；
And clasp thee close； with a sweet surprise；
And a guest will go in by the heart's holy door；
And the chambers of Love shall be left no more。
THE OPOSSUM…HUNTERS
HEAR ye not the waters beating where the rapid rivers； meeting
With the winds above them fleeting； hurry to the distant seas；
And a smothered sound of singing from old Ocean upwards springing；
Sending hollow echoes ringing like a wailing on the breeze？
For the tempest round us brewing； cometh with the clouds pursuing；
And the bright Day； like a ruin； crumbles from the mournful trees。
When the thunder ceases pealing； and the stars up heaven are stealing；
And the Moon above us wheeling throws her pleasant glances round；
From our homes we boldly sally 'neath the trysting tree to rally；
For a night…hunt up the valley； with our brothers and the hound！
Through a wild…eyed Forest； staring at the light above it glaring；
We will travel； little caring for the dangers where we bound。
Twisted boughs shall tremble o'er us； hollow woods shall moan before us；
And the torrents like a chorus down the gorges dark shall sing；
And the vines shall shake and shiver； and the startled grasses quiver；
Like the reeds beside a river in the gusty days of Spring；
While we forward haste delighted； through a region seldom lighted …
Souls impatient； hearts excited … like a wind upon the wing！
Oh！ the solemn tones of Ocean； like the language of devotion；
Or a voice of deep emotion； wander round the evening scene。
Oh！ the ragged shadows cluster where； my brothers； we must muster
Page： 47
Ere the warm moon lends her lustre to the cedars darkly green；
And the lights like flowers shall blossom； in high Heaven's kindly bosom；
While we hunt the wild opossum； underneath its leafy screen；
Underneath the woven bowers； where the gloomy night…hawk cowers；
Through a lapse of dreamy hours； in a stirless solitude！
And the hound … that close beside us still will stay whate'er betide us …
Through a 'wildering waste shall guide us …
through a maze where few intrude；
Till the game is chased to cover； till the stirring sport is over；
Till we bound； each happy rover； homeward down the laughing wood。
Oh； the joy in wandering thither； when fond friends are all together
And our souls are like the weather … cloudless； clear and fresh and free！
Let the sailor sing the story of the ancient ocean's glory；
Forests golden； mountains hoary … can he look and love like we？
Sordid worldling； haunt thy city with that heart so hard and gritty！
There are those who turn with pity when they turn to think of thee！
IN THE DEPTHS OF THE FOREST
IN the depths of a Forest secluded and wild；
The night voices whisper in passionate numbers；
And I'm leaning again； as I did when a child；
O'er the grave where my father so quietly slumbers。
The years have rolled by with a thundering sound
But I knew； O ye woodlands； affection would know it；
And the spot which I stand on is sanctified ground
By the love that I bear to him sleeping below it。
Page： 48
Oh！ well may the winds with a saddening moan
Go fitfully over the branches so dreary；
And well may I kneel by the time…shattered stone；
And rejoice that a rest has been found for the weary。
TO CHARLES HARPUR
I WOULD sit at your feet for long days；
To hear the sweet Muse of the Wild
Speak out through the sad and the passionate lays
Of her first and her favourite Child。
I would sit at your feet； for my soul
Delights in the solitudes free；
And I stand where the creeks and the cataracts roll
Whensoever I listen to thee！