songs from the mountains-第8章
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My mournful tale its course has run …
My Pete； when last I spied him；
Was eating 'possum underdone：
He had his gin beside him。
Page： 111
NARRARA CREEK
（Written in the Shadow of 1872）
FROM the rainy hill…heads； where； in starts and in spasms；
Leaps wild the white torrent from chasms to chasms …
From the home of bold echoes； whose voices of wonder
Fly out of blind caverns struck black by high thunder …
Through gorges august； in whose nether recesses
Is heard the far psalm of unseen wildernesses …
Like a dominant spirit； a strong…handed sharer
Of spoil with the tempest； comes down the Narrara。
Page： 112
Yea； where the great sword of the hurricane cleaveth
The forested fells that the dark never leaveth …
By fierce…featured crags； in whose evil abysses
The clammy snake coils； and the flat adder hisses …
Past lordly rock temples； where Silence is riven
By the anthems supreme of the four winds of heaven …
It speeds； with the cry of the streams of the fountains
It chained to its sides； and dragged down from the mountains！
But when it goes forth from the slopes with a sally …
Being strengthened with tribute from many a valley …
It broadens and brightens； and thereupon marches
Above the stream sapphires and under green arches；
With the rhythm of majesty … careless of cumber …
Its might in repose and its fierceness in slumber …
Till it beams on the plains； where the wind is a bearer
Of words from the sea to the stately Narrara！
Page： 113
Narrara！ grand son of the haughty hill torrent；
Too late in my day have I looked at thy current …
Too late in my life to discern and inherit
The soul of thy beauty； the joy of thy spirit！
With the years of the youth and the hairs of the hoary；
I sit like a shadow outside of thy glory；
Nor look with the morning…like feelings； O river；
That illumined the boy in the days gone for ever！
Ah！ sad are the sounds of old ballads which borrow
One…half of their grief from the listener's sorrow；
And sad are the eyes of the pilgrim who traces
The ruins of Time in revisited places；
But sadder than all is the sense of his losses
That cometh to one when a sudden age crosses
And cripples his manhood。 So； stricken by fate； I
Felt older at thirty than some do at eighty。
Page： 114
Because I believe in the beautiful story；
The poem of Greece in the days of her glory …
That the high…seated Lord of the woods and the waters
Has peopled His world with His deified daughters …
That flowerful forests and waterways streaming
Are gracious with goddesses glowing and gleaming …
I pray that thy singing divinity； fairer
Than wonderful women； may listen； Narrara！
O spirit of sea…going currents！ … thou； being
The child of immortals； all…knowing； all…seeing …
Thou hast at thy heart the dark truth that I borrow
For the song that I sing thee； no fanciful sorrow；
In the sight of thine eyes is the history written
Of Love smitten down as the strong leaf is smitten；
And before thee there goeth a phantom beseeching
For faculties forfeited … hopes beyond reaching。
Page： 115
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Thou knowest； O sister of deities blazing
With splendour ineffable； beauty amazing；
What life the gods gave me … what largess I tasted …
The youth thrown away； and the faculties wasted。
I might； as thou seest； have stood in high places；
Instead of in pits where the brand of disgrace is；
A byword for scoffers … a butt and a caution；
With the grave of poor Burns and Maginn for my portion。
But the heart of the Father Supreme is offended；
And my life in the light of His favour is ended；
And； whipped by inflexible devils； I shiver；
With a hollow ‘‘Too late'' in my hearing for ever；
But thou … being sinless； exalted； supernal；
The daughter of diademed gods； the eternal …
Shalt shine in thy waters when time and existence
Have dwindled； like stars； in unspeakable distance。
Page： 116
But the face of thy river … the torrented power
That smites at the rock while it fosters the flower …
Shall gleam in my dreams with the summer…look splendid；
And the beauty of woodlands and waterfalls blended；
And often I'll think of far…forested noises；
And the emphasis deep of grand sea…going voices；
And turn to Narrara the eyes of a lover；
When the sorrowful days of my singing are over。
Page： 117
IN MEMORY OF JOHN FAIRFAX
WRITTEN AFTER READING A TOUCHING POEM BY MRS BROWNING
BECAUSE this man fulfilled his days；
Like one who walks with steadfast gaze
Averted from forbidden ways
With lures of fair； false flowerage deep；
Behold the Lord whose throne is dim
With fires of flaming seraphim …
The Christ that suffered sent for him：
‘‘He giveth His beloved sleep。''
Page： 118
Think not that souls whose deeds august
Put sin to shame and make men just
Become at last the helpless dust
That wintering winds through waste…lands sweep！
The higher life within us cries；
Like some fine spirit from the skies；
‘‘The Father's blessing on us lies …
‘He giveth His beloved sleep。'''
Not human sleep … the fitful rest
With evil shapes of dreams distressed； …
But perfect quiet； unexpressed
By any worldly word we keep。
The dim Hereafter framed in creeds
May not be this； but He who reads
Our lives； sets flowers on wayside weeds …
‘‘He giveth His beloved sleep。''
Page： 119
Be sure this hero who has passed
The human space … the outer vast …
Who worked in harness to the last；
Doth now a hallowed harvest reap。
Love sees his grave； nor turns away …
The eyes of faith are like the day；
And grief has not a word to say …
‘‘He giveth His beloved sleep。''
That fair； rare spirit； Honour； throws
A light； which puts to shame the rose；
Across his grave； because she knows
The son whose ashes it doth keep；
And； like far music； this is heard …
‘‘Behold the man who never stirred；
By word of his； an angry word！ …
‘He giveth His beloved sleep。'''
Page： 120
He earned his place。 Within his hands；
The power which counsels and commands；
And shapes the social life of lands；
Became a blessing pure and deep。
Note：The Press
Through thirty years of turbulence
Our thoughts were sweetened with a sense
Of his benignant influence …
‘‘He giveth His beloved sleep。''
No splendid talents； which excite
Like music； songs； or floods of light；
Were his； but； rather； all those bright；
Calm qualities of soul which reap
A mute； but certain； fine respect；
Not only from a source elect；
But from the hearts of every sect …
‘‘He giveth His beloved sleep。''
Page： 121
He giveth His beloved rest！
The faithful soul that onward pressed；
Unswerving； from Life's east to west；
By paths austere and passes steep；
Is past all toil； and； over Death；
With reverent hands and prayerful breath；
I plant this flower； alive with faith …
‘‘He giveth His beloved sleep。''
Page： 122
ARALUEN
TAKE this rose； and very gently place it on the tender； deep
Mosses where our little darling； Araluen； lies asleep。
Put the blossom close to baby … kneel with me； my love； and pray；
We must leave the bird we've buried … say good…bye to her to…day。
In the shadow of our trouble we must go to other lands；
And the flowers we have fostered will be left to other hands：
Other eyes will watch them growing … other feet will softly tread
Page： 123
Where two hearts are nearly breaking； where so many tears are shed。
Bitter is the world we live in： life and love are mixed with pain；
We will never see these daisies … never water them again。
Ah！ the saddest thought in leaving baby in this bush alone
Is that we have not been able on her grave to place a stone：
We have been too poor to do it； but； my darling； never mind …
God is in the gracious heavens； and His sun and rain are kind：
They will dress the spot with beauty； they will make the grasses grow：
Many winds will lull our birdie； many songs will come and go。
Page： 124
Here the blue…eyed Spring will linger； here the shining month will stay；
Like a friend； by Araluen； when we two are far away；
But beyond the wild； wide waters； we will tread another shore …
We will never watch this blossom； never see it any more。
Girl； whose hand at God's high altar in the dear； dead year I pressed；
Lean your stricken head upon me … this is still your lover's breast！
She who sleeps was first and sweetest … none we have to take her place；
Empty is the little cradle … absent is the little face。
Other children may be given； but this rose beyond recall；
But this garland of your girlhood； will be dearest of them all。
Page： 125
None will ever； Araluen； nestle where you used to be；
In my heart of hearts； you darling； when the world was new to me；
We were young when you were with us； life and love were happy things
To your father and your mother ere the angels gave you wings。
You that sit and sob beside me … you； upon whose golden head
Many rains of many sorrows have from day to day been shed；
Who because your love was noble； faced with me the lot austere
Ever pressing with its hardship on the man of letters here …
Let me feel that you are near me； lay your hand within mine own；
Page： 126
You are all I have to live for； now that we are left alone。
Three there were； but one has vanished。 Sins of mine have made you weep；
But forgive your baby's father now that baby is asleep。
Let us go； for night is falling； leave the darling with her flowers；
Other hands will come and tend them … other friends in other hours。
Page： 127
THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
（A Prize Poem published with the kind permission of the
Proprietors of the ‘‘Sydney Morning Herald''）
NOW； while Orion； flaming south； doth set
A shining foot on hills of wind and wet …
Far haughty hills beyond the fountains cold
And dells of glimmering greenness manifold …
While August sings the advent of the Spring；
And in the calm is heard September's wing；
T
