I see Australia’s footprints marking out her destiny,
No castles proud or battlements proclaim her ancestry:
But the Empire Mother’s children are strong and lithe and free,
And they bravely bear their starry flag; true knights of chivalry.
Beneath the glittering Southern Cross where the red hibiscus’ flame,
Where set in a sea of silver lie the thousand isles of fame,
Is the Barrier Reef—the rampart—whence with hundred eyes of hate
The shrapnel shell may sound the knell of the foe at the Eastern Gate.
And the lineal sons of Norsemen with the lightning of their glance
Will ready be for the enemy with rapier and with lance.
Her ships may scour the ocean but the nation holds the key
Of future power, who, with aerial fleet, can claim supremacy.
The shadow of the hand is there which presages a power
When, with alliance severed in some unguarded hour,
Heedless of signs portentous we see no clouds of war,
With pomp and pride through portals wide the alien hordes may pour.
Then let us fill Australia with our kin, there’s room for all,
For see the fingers writing still the message on the wall;
And listen with our pride of race we children of the dawn,
To the warning voice of nations while yet it is the morn.
And like true soldier citizens, who armed, may keep the peace,
’Twill lead the way unto the day when the demon war shall cease.
EVOLUTION.
A child of the Sun I am ages old,
I live on the past, and its wisdom unfold;
A handmaid of nature my dwelling unseen,
I’m integrally part of whatever has been.
Like a meteor I sprang from the womb of the sky,
For of sun dust and star dust an atom am I;
Whatever my place in cosmogonic laws,
I belong to the great and invisible cause.
Incorporate yet with the corporate mind
I resolve myself, evolve, and govern mankind.
I was nursed in oblivion, with silence was reared,
Controlling man’s destiny, ever unheard;
I press through the centuries slowly, but sure,
And I never may rest until time be no more.
An atom of mighty centrifugal force,
No power can destroy or can alter my course:
Though earth and her satellite fall like a star,
I still will rejoice on some planet afar.
A mentor I am if man will but read,
For cause and effect are God’s agents indeed.
Though I ever despoil, yet I ever renew,
And I silently work where no mortal may view:
I move on the mountains, I move in the deep,
I never am still, yet eternally sleep;
Like the dew of the morning refreshing the ground
I bless and am blended with all things around.
From the steps of the past to the future I climb,
For from Heaven I am sent with a message sublime:
On the rocks—nature’s book—my traces I leave,
That in me—Evolution—you all may believe.
LOVE’S REVERIE.
I sang a song one glorious eve
Meant for your ears alone,
I may not sing that song again
For years since then have flown;
But I remember that the dew
Lay glistening in your eyes so blue.
I sang to you one summer day
All through the golden hours
As down a mossy dell we strayed
And plucked the scented flowers;
And as I sang love’s sweet refrain
Your eyes were dim with tears again.
I sang when night in splendour fell
Where southern stars look down
And they and you alone could tell
How deep my love had grown,
And when I saw your eyes ashine
It seemed to make my love divine.
Dear heart, I sang to you alone
My song with trembling voice,
Which told how love could make our lives
A holy sacrifice.
Then tenderly, with quivering breath
You gave yourself to me till death.