And shake the great globe with the strength of their hands；
Flash past us … unnoticed by Bill。
The elders of science who measure the spheres
And weigh the vast bulk of the sun …
Who see the grand lights beyond aeons of years；
Are less than a bullock to one~。
The singers that sweeten all time with their song …
Pure voices that make us forget
Humanity's drama of marvellous wrong …
To Bill are as mysteries yet。
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By thunders of battle and nations uphurled；
Bill's sympathies never were stirred：
The helmsmen who stand at the wheel of the world
By him are unknown and unheard。
What trouble has Bill for the ruin of lands；
Or the quarrels of temple and throne；
So long as the whip that he holds in his hands
And the team that he drives are his own？
As straight and as sound as a slab without crack；
Our Bill is a king in his way；
Though he camps by the side of a shingle track；
And sleeps on the bed of his dray。
A whip…lash to him is as dear as a rose
Would be to a delicate maid；
He carries his darlings wherever he goes；
In a pocket…book tattered and frayed。
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The joy of a bard when he happens to write
A song like the song of his dream
Is nothing at all to our hero's delight
In the pluck and the strength of his team。
For the kings of the earth； for the faces august
Of princes； the millions may shout；
To Bill； as he lumbers along in the dust；
A bullock's the grandest thing out。
His four…footed friends are the friends of his choice …
No lover is Bill of your dames；
But the cattle that turn at the sound of his voice
Have the sweetest of features and names。
A father's chief joy is a favourite son；
When he reaches some eminent goal；
But the pride of Bill's heart is the hairy…legged one
That pulls with a will at the pole。
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His dray is no living； responsible thing；
But he gives it the gender of life；
And； seeing his fancy is free in the wing；
It suits him as well as a wife。
He thrives like an Arab。 Between the two wheels
Is his bedroom； where； lying up…curled；
He thinks for himself； like a sultan； and feels
That his home is the best in the world。
For； even though cattle； like subjects； will break
At times from the yoke and the band；
Bill knows how to act when his rule is at stake；
And is therefore a lord of the land。
Of course he must dream； but be sure that his dreams；
If happy； must compass； alas！
Fat bullocks at feed by improbable streams；
Knee…deep in improbable grass。
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No poet is Bill； for the visions of night
To him are as visions of day；
And the pipe that in sleep he endeavours to light
Is the pipe that he smokes on the dray。
To the mighty； magnificent temples of God；
In the hearts of the dominant hills；
Bill's eyes are as blind as the fire…blackened clod
That burns far away from the rills。
Through beautiful； bountiful forests that screen
A marvel of blossoms from heat …
Whose lights are the mellow and golden and green …
Bill walks with irreverent feet。
The manifold splendours of mountain and wood
By Bill like nonentities slip；
He loves the black myrtle because it is good
As a handle to lash to his whip。
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And thus through the world； with a swing in his tread；
Our hero self…satisfied goes；
With his cabbage…tree hat on the back of his head；
And the string of it under his nose。
Poor bullocky Bill！ In the circles select
Of the scholars he hasn't a place；
But he walks like a man； with his forehead erect；
And he looks at God's day in the face。
For； rough as he seems； he would shudder to wrong
A dog with the loss of a hair；
And the angels of shine and superlative song
See his heart and the deity there。
Few know him； indeed； but the beauty that glows
In the forest is loveliness still；
And Providence helping the life of the rose
Is a Friend and a Father to Bill。
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COORANBEAN
YEARS fifty； and seven to boot； have smitten the children of men
Since sound of a voice or a foot came out of the head of that glen。
The brand of black devil is there … an evil wind moaneth around …
There is doom； there is death in the air： a curse groweth up from the ground！
No noise of the axe or the saw in that hollow unholy is heard；
No fall of the hoof or the paw； no whirr of the wing of the bird；
But a grey mother down by the sea； as wan as the foam on the strait；
Has counted the beads on her knee these forty…nine winters and eight。
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Whenever an elder is asked … a white…headed man of the woods …
Of the terrible mystery masked where the dark everlastingly broods；
Be sure he will turn to the bay； with his back to the glen in the range；
And glide like a phantom away； with a countenance pallid with change。
From the line of dead timber that lies supine at the foot of the glade；
The fierce…featured eaglehawk flies … afraid as a dove is afraid；
But back in that wilderness dread are a fall and the forks of a ford …
Ah！ pray and uncover your head； and lean like a child on the Lord。
A sinister fog at the wane … at the change of the moon cometh forth
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Like an ominous ghost in the train of a bitter； black storm of the north！
At the head of the gully unknown it hangs like a spirit of bale。
And the noise of a shriek and a groan strikes up in the gusts of the gale。
In the throat of a feculent pit is the beard of a bloody…red sedge；
And a foam like the foam of a fit sweats out of the lips of the ledge。
But down in the water of death； in the livid； dead pool at the base …
Bow low； with inaudible breath； beseech with the hands to the face！
A furlong of fetid； black fen； with gelid； green patches of pond；
Lies dumb by the horns of the glen … at the gates of the horror beyond；
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And those who have looked on it tell of the terrible growths that are there …
The flowerage fostered by hell； the blossoms that startle and scare。
If ever a wandering bird should light on Gehennas like this
Be sure that a cry will be heard； and the sound of the flat adder's hiss。
But hard by the jaws of the bend is a ghastly Thing matted with moss …
Ah； Lord！ be a father； a friend； for the sake of the Christ of the Cross。
Black Tom； with the sinews of five … that never a hangman could hang …
In the days of the shackle and gyve； broke loose from the guards of the gang。
Thereafter； for seasons a score； this devil prowled under the ban；
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A mate of red talon and paw； a wolf in the shape of a man。
But； ringed by ineffable fire； in a thunder and wind of the north；
The sword of Omnipotent ire … the bolt of high Heaven went forth！
But； wan as the sorrowful foam； a grey mother waits by the sea
For the boys that have never come home these fifty…four winters and three。
From the folds of the forested hills there are ravelled and roundabout tracks；
Because of the terror that fills the strong…handed men of the axe！
Of the workers away in the range there is none that will wait for the night；
When the storm…stricken moon is in change and the sinister fog is in sight。
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And later and deep in the dark； when the bitter wind whistles about；
There is never a howl or a bark from the dog in the kennel without；
But the white fathers fasten the door； and often and often they start；
At a sound like a foot on the floor and a touch like a hand on the heart。
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WHEN UNDERNEATH THE BROWN DEAD GRASS
WHEN underneath the brown dead grass
My weary bones are laid；
I hope I shall not see the glass
At ninety in the shade。
I trust indeed that； when I lie
Beneath the churchyard pine；
I shall not hear that startling cry
‘‘‘Thermom' is ninety…nine！''
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If one should whisper through my sleep
‘‘Come up and be alive；''
I'd answer … No； unless you'll keep
The glass at sixty…five。
I might be willing if allowed
To wear old Adam's rig；
And mix amongst the city crowd
Like Polynesian ‘‘nig''。
Far better in the sod to lie；
With pasturing pig above；
Than broil beneath a copper sky …
In sight of all I love！
Far better to be turned to grass
To feed the poley cow；
Than be the half boiled bream； alas；