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To wash the busy sluices and whisper through the gold。
She sees no wild…eyed steers above stand spear…horned on the brink；
The brumby mobs she used to love come down no more to drink；
Where green the grasses used to twine above them； shoulder…deep；
Through the red dust a long； slow line crawl in the starving sheep；
She sees no crossing cattle that Western drovers bring；
No swimming steeds that battle to block them when they ring。
She sees no barricaded roofs； no loop…holed station wall；
No foaming steed with flying hoofs to bring the word 〃Ben Hall！〃
She sees no reckless robbers stoop behind their ambush stone；
No coach…and…four； no escort troop； but； very lorn and lone；
Watches the sunsets redden along the mountain side
Where round the spurs of Weddin the wraiths of Weddin ride。
Tho' fettered with her earthen bars and chained with bridge and weir
She goes her own way with the stars； she knows the course to steer！
And when her thousand rocky rills foam； angry； to her feet；
Rain…heavy from the Cowra hills she takes her vengeance sweet；
And leaps with roar of thunder； and buries bridge and ford；
That all the world may wonder when the Lachlan bares her sword！
Gray River！ let me take your hand for all your memories old
Your cattle…kings； your outlaw…band； your wealth of virgin gold；
For once you held； and hold it now； the sceptre of a queen；
And still upon your furrowed brow the royal wreaths are green；
Hold wide your arms； the waters！ Lay bare your silver breast
To nurse the sons and daughters that spread your empire west！
Drought
My road is fenced with the bleached； white bones
And strewn with the blind； white sand；
Beside me a suffering； dumb world moans
On the breast of a lonely land。
On the rim of the world the lightnings play；
The heat…waves quiver and dance；
And the breath of the wind is a sword to slay
And the sunbeams each a lance。
I have withered the grass where my hot hoofs tread；
I have whitened the sapless trees；
I have driven the faint…heart rains ahead
To hide in their soft green seas。
I have bound the plains with an iron band；
I have stricken the slow streams dumb！
To the charge of my vanguards who shall stand？
Who stay when my cohorts come？
The dust…storms follow and wrap me round；
The hot winds ride as a guard；
Before me the fret of the swamps is bound
And the way of the wild…fowl barred。
I drop the whips on the loose…flanked steers；
I burn their necks with the bow；
And the green…hide rips and the iron sears
Where the staggering； lean beasts go。
I lure the swagman out of the road
To the gleam of a phantom lake；
I have laid him down； I have taken his load；
And he sleeps till the dead men wake。
My hurrying hoofs in the night go by；
And the great flocks bleat their fear
And follow the curve of the creeks burnt dry
And the plains scorched brown and sere。
The worn men start from their sleepless rest
With faces haggard and drawn；
They cursed the red Sun into the west
And they curse him out of the dawn。
They have carried their outposts far； far out；
But blade of my sword for a sign！
I am the Master； the dread King Drought；
And the great West Land is mine！
The Shadow on the Blind
Last night I walked among the lamps that gleamed；
And saw a shadow on a window blind；
A moving shadow； and the picture seemed
To call some scene to mind。
I looked again； a dark form to and fro
Swayed softly as to music full of rest；
Bent low； bent lower： Still I did not know。
And then； at last； I guessed。
And through the night came all old memories flocking；
White memories like the snowflakes round me whirled。
〃All's well！〃 I said； 〃The mothers still sit rocking
The cradles of the world！〃
Roderic Quinn。
The House of the Commonwealth
We sent a word across the seas that said；
〃The house is finished and the doors are wide；
Come； enter in。
A stately house it is； with tables spread；
Where men in liberty and love abide
With hearts akin。
〃Behold； how high our hands have lifted it！
The soil it stands upon is pure and sweet
As are our skies。
Our title deeds in holy sweat are writ；
Not red accusing blood and 'neath our feet
No foeman lies。〃
And England； Mother England； leans her face
Upon her hand and feels her blood burn young
At what she sees：
The image here of that fair strength and grace
That made her feared and loved and sought and sung
Through centuries。
What chorus shall we lift； what song of joy；
What boom of seaward cannon； roll of drums？
The majesty of nationhood demands
A burst of royal sounds； as when a victor comes
From peril of a thousand foes；
An empire's honour saved from death
Brought home again； an added rose
Of victory upon its wreath。
In this wise men have greeted kings；
In name or fame；
But such acclaim
Were vain and emptiest of things
If love were silent； drawn apart；
And mute the People's mighty heart。
The love that ivy…like an ancient land doth cherish；
It grows not in a day； nor in a year doth perish。
But； little leaf by leaf；
It creeps along the walls and wreathes the ramparts hoary。
The sun that gives it strength it is a nation's glory；
The dew； a people's grief。
The love that ivy…like around a home…land lingers；
With soft embrace of breast and green； caressive fingers；
We are too young to know。
Not ours the glory…dome； the monuments and arches
At thought of which takes arms the blood； and proudly marches
Exultant o'er the foe。
Green lands undesolated
For no avengement cry；
No feud of race unsated
Leaps out again to triumph；
Leaps out again to triumph； or to die！
Attendant here to…day in heart and mind
Must be all lovers of mankind；
Attendant； too； the souls sublime
The Prophet…souls of every clime；
Who； living； in a tyrant's time；
Yet thought and wrought and sought to break
The chains about mankind and make
A man where men had made a slave：
Who all intent to lift and save
Beheld the flag of Freedom wave
And scorned the prison or the grave；
For whom the darkness failed to mar
The vision of a world afar；
The shining of the Morning Star。
Attendant here； then； they must be；
And gathering close with eyes elate
Behold the vision of a State
Where men are equal； just； and free：
A State that hath no stain upon her；
No taint to hurt her maiden honour；
A Home where love and kindness centre；
A People's House where all may enter。
And； being entered； meet no dearth
Of welcome round a common hearth；
A People's House not built of stone；
Nor wrought by hand and brain alone；
But formed and founded on the heart；
A People's House； A People's Home；
En…isled in foam and far apart；
A People's House； where all may roam
The many rooms and be at ease；
A People