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Page： 6
KIAMA
TOWARDS the hills of Jamberoo
Some few fantastic shadows haste；
Uplit with fires
Like castle spires
Outshining through a mirage waste。
Behold； a mournful glory sits
On feathered ferns and woven brakes；
Where sobbing wild like restless child
The gusty breeze of evening wakes！
Methinks I hear on every breath
A lofty tone go passing by；
That whispers … ‘‘Weave；
Though wood winds grieve；
The fadeless blooms of Poesy！''
A spirit hand has been abroad …
An evil hand to pluck the flowers …
A world of wealth；
And blooming health
Has gone from fragrant seaside bowers。
The twilight waxeth dim and dark；
The sad waves mutter sounds of woe；
But the evergreen retains its sheen；
And happy hearts exist below；
But pleasure sparkles on the sward；
And voices utter words of bliss；
And while my bride
Sits by my side；
Oh； where's the scene surpassing this？
Kiama slumbers； robed with mist；
All glittering in the dewy light
That； brooding o'er
The shingly shore；
Lies resting in the arms of Night；
And foam…flecked crags with surges chill；
And rocks embraced of cold…lipped spray；
Are moaning loud where billows crowd
In angry numbers up the bay。
Page： 7
The holy stars come looking down
On windy heights and swarthy strand；
And Life and Love …
The cliffs above …
Are sitting fondly hand in hand。
I hear a music inwardly；
That floods my soul with thoughts of joy；
Within my heart
Emotions start
That Time may still but ne'er destroy。
An ancient Spring revives itself；
And days which made the past divine；
And rich warm gleams from golden dreams；
All glorious in their summer shine；
And songs of half forgotten hours；
And many a sweet melodious strain；
Which still shall rise
Beneath the skies
When all things else have died again。
A white sail glimmers out at sea …
A vessel walking in her sleep；
Some Power goes past
That bends the mast；
While frighted waves to leeward leap。
The moonshine veils the naked sand
And ripples upward with the tide；
As underground there rolls a sound
From where the caverned waters glide。
A face that bears affection's glow；
The soul that speaks from gentle eyes；
And joy which slips
From loving lips
Have made this spot my Paradise！
ETHELINE
The heart that once was rich with light；
And happy in your grace；
Now lieth cold beneath the scorn
That gathers on your face；
Page： 8
And every joy it knew before；
And every templed dream；
Is paler than the dying flash
On yonder mountain stream。
The soul； regretting foundered bliss
Amid the wreck of years；
Hath mourned it with intensity
Too deep for human tears！
The forest fadeth underneath
The blast that rushes by …
The dripping leaves are white with death；
But Love will never die！
We both have seen the starry moss
That clings where Ruin reigns；
And one must know his lonely breast
Affection still retains；
Through all the sweetest hopes of life；
That clustered round and round；
Are lying now； like withered things；
Forsaken … on the ground。
'Tis hard to think of what we were；
And what we might have been；
Had not an evil spirit crept
Across the tranquil scene：
Had fervent feelings in your soul
Not failed nor ceased to shine
As pure as those existing on；
And burning still in mine。
Had every treasure at your feet
That I was wont to pour；
Been never thrown like worthless weeds
Upon a barren shore！
The bitter edge of grief has passed；
I would not now upbraid；
Or count to you the broken vows；
So often idly made！
I would not cross your path to chase
The falsehood from your brow …
I know； with all that borrowed light；
You are not happy now：
Page： 9
Since those that once have trampled down
Affection's early claim；
Have lost a peace they need not hope
To find on earth again。
AILEEN
A SPLENDID sun betwixt the trees
Long spikes of flame did shoot；
When turning to the fragrant South；
With longing eyes and burning mouth；
I stretched a hand athwart the drouth；
And plucked at cooling fruit。
So thirst was quenched； and hastening on
With strength returned to me；
I set my face against the noon；
And reached a denser forest soon；
Which dipped into a still lagoon
Hard by the sooming sea。
All day the ocean beat on bar
And bank of gleaming sand；
Yet that lone pool was always mild；
It never moved when waves were wild；
But slumbered； like a quiet child；
Upon the lap of land。
And when I rested on the brink；
Amongst the fallen flowers；
I lay in calm； no leaves were stirred
By breath of wind； or wing of bird；
It was so still； you might have heard
The footfalls of the hours。
Faint slumbrous scents of roses filled
The air which covered me：
My words were low … ‘‘she loved them so；
In Eden vales such odours blow：
How strange it is that roses grow
So near the shores of Sea！''
Page： 10
A sweeter fragrance never came
Across the Fields of Yore！
And when I said … ‘‘we here would dwell；'' …
A low voice on the silence fell …
‘‘Ah！ if you loved the roses well；
You loved Aileen the more。''
‘‘Ay； that I did； and now would turn；
And fall and worship her！
But Oh； you dwell so far … so high！
One cannot reach； though he may try；
The Morning land； and Jasper sky …
The balmy hills of Myrrh。
‘‘Why vex me with delicious hints
Of fairest face； and rarest blooms；
You Spirit of a darling Dream
Which links itself with every theme
And thought of mine by surf or stream；
In glens … or caverned glooms？''
She said； ‘‘thy wishes led me down；
From amaranthine bowers：
And since my face was haunting thee
With roses （dear which used to be）；
They all have hither followed me；
The scents and shapes of flowers。''
‘‘Then stay； mine own evangel； stay！
Or； going； take me too；
But let me sojourn by your side；
If here we dwell or there abide；
It matters not！'' I madly cried …
‘‘I only care for you。''
Oh； glittering Form that would not stay！ …
Oh； sudden； sighing breeze！
A fainting rainbow dropped below