08.05.2012, 21:47
Wanderings in Illawarra.
[Inscribed to John Connery, ESQ.]
I. Kiama.
YOU must remember, JOHN, how awed we stood
Upon Kiama's caverned, sea-carved peak,
Which, nathless grim and strong, is all too weak
To stem the fury of the ocean flood.
We spake not then - dark fancies chilled our blood!
But when, like white-robed vestal, bright and meek,
The Austral Moon, o'er sea and coastline bleak,
In perfeet fulness rose, we did (and could)
Commend the beauties of that witching scene:
The mountain chain, which forms its barrier strong;
Its hamlet homes, and churches on the green;
Its strips of snowy sand the shore along.
Twice hallowed was the spot to us, I ween,
All glorified by Heaven and KENDALL'S song!
II. Heights of Jamberoo.
I WILL recall the mind-ghosts of that night,
Which quickly-sullenly - upon us fell
Ere we could bid Kiama's vale farewell.
And while we clomb steep Jamberoo's rough height,
Were not the glooms so spectral that our sight
Oft shut their shadows out? O'er knoll and dell
Did not shrill shrieks and their wild echoes swell,
While, here and there, glared eyes of lurid light
From red bush fires? In sooth, we seemed to live
In that dark, horrent valley of unrest,
Which weird word-workers to pale phantoms give -
The shadows of man's phantasies unblest -
As fitting place of sojourn. Let us strive
To win from that hard travail hope of endless rest.
III. Wollongong.
FAIR fell the hour in which with trembling eyes
We first beheld the beach of Wollongong;
The breath came freer, and the heart grew strong,
As, wonderstruck, we viewed the bright surprise.
Enwreathed in fadeless verdure, to the skies
Mount Keera raised his kingly head. The song -
The ocean murmurs of the waves which throng
High up the shimmering shore - in mystic sighs
Poured passion-breathings on the awakened ear,
While, like a dome of vast unsullied blue,
This grand expanse the empyrean clear
O'erarched.... In every rounded shape and shifting hue
Of perfect Beauty did we then revere
Creative forces - ever ancient, ever new!
[Inscribed to John Connery, ESQ.]
I. Kiama.
YOU must remember, JOHN, how awed we stood
Upon Kiama's caverned, sea-carved peak,
Which, nathless grim and strong, is all too weak
To stem the fury of the ocean flood.
We spake not then - dark fancies chilled our blood!
But when, like white-robed vestal, bright and meek,
The Austral Moon, o'er sea and coastline bleak,
In perfeet fulness rose, we did (and could)
Commend the beauties of that witching scene:
The mountain chain, which forms its barrier strong;
Its hamlet homes, and churches on the green;
Its strips of snowy sand the shore along.
Twice hallowed was the spot to us, I ween,
All glorified by Heaven and KENDALL'S song!
II. Heights of Jamberoo.
I WILL recall the mind-ghosts of that night,
Which quickly-sullenly - upon us fell
Ere we could bid Kiama's vale farewell.
And while we clomb steep Jamberoo's rough height,
Were not the glooms so spectral that our sight
Oft shut their shadows out? O'er knoll and dell
Did not shrill shrieks and their wild echoes swell,
While, here and there, glared eyes of lurid light
From red bush fires? In sooth, we seemed to live
In that dark, horrent valley of unrest,
Which weird word-workers to pale phantoms give -
The shadows of man's phantasies unblest -
As fitting place of sojourn. Let us strive
To win from that hard travail hope of endless rest.
III. Wollongong.
FAIR fell the hour in which with trembling eyes
We first beheld the beach of Wollongong;
The breath came freer, and the heart grew strong,
As, wonderstruck, we viewed the bright surprise.
Enwreathed in fadeless verdure, to the skies
Mount Keera raised his kingly head. The song -
The ocean murmurs of the waves which throng
High up the shimmering shore - in mystic sighs
Poured passion-breathings on the awakened ear,
While, like a dome of vast unsullied blue,
This grand expanse the empyrean clear
O'erarched.... In every rounded shape and shifting hue
Of perfect Beauty did we then revere
Creative forces - ever ancient, ever new!