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Or blacken a name in a public bar or over a backyard fence。
And this you learn from the libelled past；
though its methods were somewhat rude
A nation's born where the shells fall fast； or its lease of life renewed。
We in part atone for the ghoulish strife；
and the crimes of the peace we boast；
And the better part of a people's life in the storm comes uppermost。
The self…same spirit that drives the man to the depths of drink and crime
Will do the deeds in the heroes' van that live till the end of time。
The living death in the lonely bush； the greed of the selfish town；
And even the creed of the outlawed push is chivalry upside down。
'Twill be while ever our blood is hot； while ever the world goes wrong；
The nations rise in a war； to rot in a peace that lasts too long。
And southern nation and southern state； aroused from their dream of ease；
Must sign in the Book of Eternal Fate their stormy histories。
Middleton's Rouseabout
Tall and freckled and sandy；
Face of a country lout；
This was the picture of Andy；
Middleton's Rouseabout。
Type of a coming nation；
In the land of cattle and sheep；
Worked on Middleton's station；
〃Pound a week and his keep。〃
On Middleton's wide dominions
Plied the stockwhip and shears；
Hadn't any opinions；
Hadn't any 〃idears〃。
Swiftly the years went over；
Liquor and drought prevailed；
Middleton went as a drover；
After his station had failed。
Type of a careless nation；
Men who are soon played out；
Middleton was： and his station
Was bought by the Rouseabout。
Flourishing beard and sandy；
Tall and robust and stout；
This is the picture of Andy；
Middleton's Rouseabout。
Now on his own dominions
Works with his overseers；
Hasn't any opinions；
Hasn't any 〃idears〃。
The Vagabond
White handkerchiefs wave from the short black pier
As we glide to the grand old sea
But the song of my heart is for none to hear
If one of them waves for me。
A roving； roaming life is mine；
Ever by field or flood
For not far back in my father's line
Was a dash of the Gipsy blood。
Flax and tussock and fern；
Gum and mulga and sand；
Reef and palm but my fancies turn
Ever away from land；
Strange wild cities in ancient state；
Range and river and tree；
Snow and ice。 But my star of fate
Is ever across the sea。
A god…like ride on a thundering sea；
When all but the stars are blind
A desperate race from Eternity
With a gale…and…a…half behind。
A jovial spree in the cabin at night；
A song on the rolling deck；
A lark ashore with the ships in sight；
Till a wreck goes down with a wreck。
A smoke and a yarn on the deck by day；
When life is a waking dream；
And care and trouble so far away
That out of your life they seem。
A roving spirit in sympathy；
Who has travelled the whole world o'er
My heart forgets； in a week at sea；
The trouble of years on shore。
A rolling stone！ 'tis a saw for slaves
Philosophy false as old
Wear out or break 'neath the feet of knaves；
Or rot in your bed of mould！
But I'D rather trust to the darkest skies
And the wildest seas that roar；
Or die； where the stars of Nations rise；
In the stormy clouds of war。
Cleave to your country； home； and friends；
Die in a sordid strife
You can count your friends on your finger ends
In the critical hours of life。
Sacrifice all for the family's sake；
Bow to their selfish rule！
Slave till your big soft heart they break
The heart of the family fool。
Domestic quarrels； and family spite；
And your Native Land may be
Controlled by custom； but； come what might；
The rest of the world for me。
I'd sail with money； or sail without！
If your love be forced from home；
And you dare enough； and your heart be stout；
The world is your own to roam。
I've never a love that can sting my pride；
Nor a friend to prove untrue；
For I leave my love ere the turning tide；
And my friends are all too new。
The curse of the Powers on a peace like ours；
With its greed and its treachery
A stranger's hand； and a stranger land；
And the rest of the world for me！
But why be bitter？ The world is cold
To one with a frozen heart；
New friends are often so like the old；
They seem of the past a part
As a better part of the past appears；
When enemies； parted long；
Are come together in kinder years；
With their better nature strong。
I had a friend； ere my first ship sailed；
A friend that I never deserved
For the selfish strain in my blood prevailed
As soon as my turn was served。
And the memory haunts my heart with shame
Or； rather； the pride that's there；
In different guises； but soul the same；
I meet him everywhere。
I had a chum。 When the times were tight
We starved in Australian scrubs；
We froze together in parks at night；
And laughed together in pubs。
And I often hear a laugh like his
From a sense of humour keen；
And catch a glimpse in a passing phiz
Of his broad； good…humoured grin。
And I had a love 'twas a love to prize
But I never went back again 。 。 。
I have seen the light of her kind brown eyes
In many a face since then。
。 。 。 。 。
The sailors say 'twill be rough to…night；
As they fasten the hatches down；
The south is black； and the bar is white；
And the drifting smoke is brown。
The gold has gone from the western haze；
The sea…birds circle and swarm
But we shall have plenty of sunny days；
And little enough of storm。
The hill is hiding the short black pier；
As the last white signal's seen；
The points run in； and the houses veer；
And the great bluff stands between。
So darkness swallows each far white speck
On many a wharf and quay。
The night comes down on a restless deck；
Grim cliffs and The Open Sea！
The Sliprails and the Spur
The colours of the setting sun
Withdrew across the Western land
He raised the sliprails； one by one；
And shot them home with trembling hand；
Her brown hands clung her face grew pale
Ah！ quivering chin and eyes that brim！
One quick； fierce kiss across the rail；
And； 〃Good…bye； Mary！〃 〃Good…bye； Jim！〃
~Oh； he rides hard to race the pain
Who rides from love； who rides from home；
But he rides slowly home again；
Whose heart has learnt to love and roam。~
A hand upon the horse's mane；
And one foot in the stirrup set；
And； stooping back to kiss again；
With 〃Good…bye； Mary！ don't you fret！
When I come back〃 he laughed for her
〃We do not know how soon 'twill be；
I'll whistle as I round the spur
You let the sliprails down for me。〃
She gasped for sudden loss of hope；
As； with a backward wave to her；
He cantered down the grassy slope
And swiftly round the dark'ning spur。
Black…pencilled panels standing high；