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45 Works of Adam Lindsay Gordon

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Through the lattice rushes the south wind, denseWith fumes of the flowery frankincenseFrom hawthorn blossoming thickly;And gold is shower’d on grass unshorn,And poppy-fire on shuddering corn,With May-dew flooded and flush’d with morn,And scented with sweetness sickly. The bloom and brilliance of summer days,The buds that brighten, the fields that blaze,The fruits that ripen and redden,And […]

"Early Adieux"

Story type: Poetry

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Adieu to kindred hearts and home,To pleasure, joy, and mirth,A fitter foot than mine to roamCould scarcely tread the earth;For they are now so few indeed(Not more than three in all),Who e’er will think of me or heedWhat fate may me befall. For I through pleasure’s paths have runMy headlong goal to win,Nor pleasure’s snares […]

To the Author of “Holmby House” They are rhymes rudely strung with intent lessOf sound than of words,In lands where bright blossoms are scentless,And songless bright birds;Where, with fire and fierce drought on her tresses,Insatiable Summer oppressesSere woodlands and sad wildernesses,And faint flocks and herds. Where in dreariest days, when all dews end,And all winds […]

Though I have loved you well, I ween,And you, too, fancied me,Your heart hath too divided beenA constant heart to be.And like the gay and youthful knight,Who loved and rode away,Your fleeting fancy takes a flightWith every fleeting day. So let it be as you propose,Tho’ hard the struggle be;‘Tis fitter far–that goodness knows!–Since we […]

A Hunting Song

Story type: Poetry

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Here’s a health to every sportsman, be he stableman or lord,If his heart be true, I care not what his pocket may afford;And may he ever pleasantly each gallant sport pursue,If he takes his liquor fairly, and his fences fairly, too. He cares not for the bubbles of Fortune’s fickle tide,Who like Bendigo can battle, […]

No. I I’ve something of the bull-dog in my breed,The spaniel is developed somewhat less;While life is in me I can fight and bleed,But never the chastising hand caress.You say the stroke was well intended. “True.”You mention “It was meant to do me good.”“That may be.” “You deserve it.” “Granted, too.”“Then take it kindly.” “No–I […]

Hold hard, Ned! Lift me down once more, and lay me in the shade.Old man, you’ve had your work cut out to guideBoth horses, and to hold me in the saddle when I sway’d,All through the hot, slow, sleepy, silent ride.The dawn at “Moorabinda” was a mist rack dull and dense,The sunrise was a sullen, […]

Mark:So, Maurice, you sail to-morrow, you say?And you may or may not return?Be sociable, man! for once in a way,Unless you’re too old to learn.The shadows are cool by the water sideWhere the willows grow by the pond,And the yellow laburnum’s drooping prideSheds a golden gleam beyond.For the blended tints of the summer flowers,For the […]

The ocean heaves around us stillWith long and measured swell,The autumn gales our canvas fill,Our ship rides smooth and well.The broad Atlantic’s bed of foamStill breaks against our prow;I shed no tears at quitting home,Nor will I shed them now! Against the bulwarks on the poopI lean, and watch the sunBehind the red horizon stoop–His […]

From Dawn to Dusk. Dawn On skies still and starlitWhite lustres take hold,And grey flushes scarlet,And red flashes gold.And sun-glories coverThe rose shed above her,Like lover and loverThey flame and unfold. * * * * * Still bloom in the gardenGreen grass-plot, fresh lawn,Though pasture lands hardenAnd drought fissures yawn.While leaves not a few fall,Let […]

The Swimmer

Story type: Poetry

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With short, sharp, violent lights made vivid,To southward far as the sight can roam,Only the swirl of the surges livid,The seas that climb and the surfs that comb.Only the crag and the cliff to nor’ward,And the rocks receding, and reefs flung forward,And waifs wreck’d seaward and wasted shorewardOn shallows sheeted with flaming foam. A grim, […]

Laudamus

Story type: Poetry

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The Lord shall slay or the Lord shall save!He is righteous whether He save or slay–Brother, give thanks for the gifts He gave,Though the gifts He gave He hath taken away.Shall we strive for that which is nothing? Nay.Shall we hate each other for that which fled?She is but a marvel of modelled clay,And the […]

Thora’s Song

Story type: Poetry

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(“Ashtaroth”) We severed in autumn early,Ere the earth was torn by the plough;The wheat and the oats and the barleyAre ripe for the harvest now.We sunder’d one misty morning,Ere the hills were dimm’d by the rain,Through the flowers those hills adorning–Thou comest not back again. My heart is heavy and wearyWith the weight of a […]

The sword slew one in deadly strife;One perish’d by the bowl;The third lies self-slain by the knife;For three the bells may toll–I loved her better than my life,And better than my soul. Aye, father! hast thou come at last?‘Tis somewhat late to pray;Life’s crimson tides are ebbing fast,They drain my soul away;Mine eyes with film […]

A Song Of Autumn

Story type: Poetry

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“Where shall we go for our garlands gladAt the falling of the year,When the burnt-up banks are yellow and sad,When the boughs are yellow and sere?Where are the old ones that once we had,And when are the new ones near?What shall we do for our garlands gladAt the falling of the year?” “Child! can I […]

From The Wreck

Story type: Poetry

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“Turn out, boys!”–“What’s up with our super. to-night?The man’s mad–Two hours to daybreak I’d swear–Stark mad–why, there isn’t a glimmer of light.”“Take Bolingbroke, Alec, give Jack the young mare;Look sharp. A large vessel lies jamm’d on the reef,And many on board still, and some wash’d on shore.Ride straight with the news–they may send some reliefFrom […]

As related by Sergeant Leigh on the nighthe got his captaincy at the Restoration. I’ll tell you a story; but pass the “jack”,And let us make merry to-night, my men.Aye, those were the days when my beard was black–I like to remember them now and then–Then Miles was living, and Cuthbert there,On his lip was […]

De Te

Story type: Poetry

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A burning glass of burnished brass,The calm sea caught the noontide rays,And sunny slopes of golden grassAnd wastes of weed-flower seem to blaze.Beyond the shining silver-greys,Beyond the shades of denser bloom,The sky-line girt with glowing hazeThe farthest, faintest forest gloom,And the everlasting hills that loom. We heard the hound beneath the mound,We scared the swamp […]

“Aye, squire,” said Stevens, “they back him at evens;The race is all over, bar shouting, they say;The Clown ought to beat her; Dick Neville is sweeterThan ever–he swears he can win all the way. “A gentleman rider–well, I’m an outsider,But if he’s a gent who the mischief’s a jock?You swells mostly blunder, Dick rides for […]

No Name

Story type: Poetry

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“A stone upon her heart and head, But no name written on that stone; Sweet neighbours whisper low instead, This sinner was a loving one.” —Mrs. Browning. ‘Tis a nameless stone that stands at your head–The gusts in the gloomy gorges whirlBrown leaves and red till they cover your bed–Now I trust that your sleep […]

An Unpublished Dramatic Lyric. Scene I“Discontent” LAURENCE RABY. Laurence:I said to young Allan M’Ilveray,Beside the swift swirls of the North,When, in lilac shot through with a silver ray,We haul’d the strong salmon fish forth–Said only, “He gave us some troubleTo land him, and what does he weigh?Our friend has caught one that weighs double,The game […]

Doubtful Dreams

Story type: Poetry

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Aye, snows are rife in December,And sheaves are in August yet,And you would have me remember,And I would rather forget;In the bloom of the May-day weather,In the blight of October chill,We were dreamers of old together,–As of old, are you dreaming still? For nothing on earth is sadderThan the dream that cheated the grasp,The flower […]

Wolf And Hound

Story type: Poetry

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“The hills like giants at a hunting lay Chin upon hand, to see the game at bay.” —Browning. You’ll take my tale with a little salt,But it needs none, nevertheless,I was foil’d completely, fairly at fault,Dishearten’d, too, I confess.At the splitters’ tent I had seen the trackOf horse-hoofs fresh on the sward,And though Darby Lynch […]

Our hopes are wild imaginings,Our schemes are airy castles,Yet these, on earth, are lords and kings,And we their slaves and vassals;Your dream, forsooth, of buoyant youth,Most ready to deceive is;But age will own the bitter truth,“Ars longa, vita brevis.” The hill of life with eager feetWe climbed in merry morning,But on the downward track we […]

The Last Leap

Story type: Poetry

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All is over! fleet career,Dash of greyhound slipping thongs,Flight of falcon, bound of deer,Mad hoof-thunder in our rear,Cold air rushing up our lungs,Din of many tongues. Once again, one struggle good,One vain effort;–he must dwellNear the shifted post, that stoodWhere the splinters of the wood,Lying in the torn tracks, tellHow he struck and fell. Crest […]

Quare Fatigasti

Story type: Poetry

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Two years ago I was thinkingOn the changes that years bring forth;Now I stand where I then stood drinkingThe gust and the salt sea froth;And the shuddering wave strikes, linkingWith the waves subsiding and sinking,And clots the coast herbage, shrinking,With the hue of the white cere-cloth. Is there aught worth losing or keeping?The bitters or […]

In Five Parts. Part IVisions in the Smoke Rest, and be thankful! On the vergeOf the tall cliff rugged and grey,But whose granite base the breakers surge,And shiver their frothy spray,Outstretched, I gaze on the eddying wreathThat gathers and flits away,With the surf beneath, and between my teethThe stem of the “ancient clay”. With the […]

“You have the Pyrrhic dance as yet, Where is the Pyrrhic phalanx gone? Of two such lessons, why forget The nobler and the manlier one?”–Byron. One line of swart profiles and bearded lips dressing,One ridge of bright helmets, one crest of fair plumes,One streak of blue sword-blades all bared for the fleshing,One row of red […]

The sun has gone down, spreading wide onThe sky-line one ray of red fire;Prepare the soft cushions of Sidon,Make ready the rich loom of Tyre.The day, with its toil and its sorrow,Its shade, and its sunshine, at lengthHas ended; dost fear for the morrow,Strong man, in the pride of thy strength? Like fire-flies, heavenward clinging,They […]

The spring-wind pass’d through the forest, and whispered low in the leaves,And the cedar toss’d her head, and the oak stood firm in his pride;The spring-wind pass’d through the town,through the housetops, casements, and eaves,And whisper’d low in the hearts of the men, and the men replied,Singing–“Let us rejoice in the lightOf our glory, and […]

The troubles of life are many,The pleasures of life are few;When we sat in the sunlight, Annie,I dreamt that the skies were blue–When we sat in the sunlight, Annie,I dreamt that the earth was green;There is little colour, if any,‘Neath the sunlight now to be seen. Then the rays of the sunset glintedThrough the blackwoods’ […]

Confiteor

Story type: Poetry

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The shore-boat lies in the morning light,By the good ship ready for sailing;The skies are clear, and the dawn is bright,Tho’ the bar of the bay is fleck’d with white,And the wind is fitfully wailing;Near the tiller stands the priest, and the knightLeans over the quarter-railing. “There is time while the vessel tarries still,There is […]

Make merry, comrades, eat and drink(The sunlight flickers on the sea),The garlands gleam, the glasses clink,The grape juice mantles fair and free,The lamps are trimm’d, although the lightOf day still lingers on the sky;We sit between the day and night,And push the wine flask merrily.I see you feasting round me still,All gay of heart and […]

Rippling Water

Story type: Poetry

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The maiden sat by the river side(The rippling water murmurs by),And sadly into the clear blue tideThe salt tear fell from her clear blue eye.“‘Tis fixed for better, for worse,” she cried,“And to-morrow the bridegroom claims the bride.Oh! wealth and power and rank and prideCan surely peace and happiness buy.I was merry, nathless, in my […]

Bellona

Story type: Poetry

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Thou art moulded in marble impassive,False goddess, fair statue of strife,Yet standest on pedestal massive,A symbol and token of life.Thou art still, not with stillness of languor,And calm, not with calm boding rest;For thine is all wrath and all angerThat throbs far and near in the breastOf man, by thy presence possess’d. With the brow […]

White steeds of ocean, that leap with a hollow and wearisome roarOn the bar of ironstone steep, not a fathom’s length from the shore,Is there never a seer nor sophist can interpret your wild refrain,When speech the harshest and roughest is seldom studied in vain?My ears are constantly smitten by that dreary monotone,In a hieroglyphic […]

Oh, gaily sings the bird! and the wattle-boughs are stirr’dAnd rustled by the scented breath of spring;Oh, the dreary wistful longing! Oh, the faces that are thronging!Oh, the voices that are vaguely whispering! Oh, tell me, father mine, ere the good ship cross’d the brine,On the gangway one mute hand-grip we exchang’d;Do you, past the […]

Cui Bono

Story type: Poetry

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Oh! wind that whistles o’er thorns and thistles,Of this fruitful earth like a goblin elf;Why should he labour to help his neighbourWho feels too reckless to help himself?The wail of the breeze in the bending treesIs something between a laugh and a groan;And the hollow roar of the surf on the shoreIs a dull, discordant […]

[A Preface and a Piracy] Prologue Of borrow’d plumes I take the sin,My extracts will applyTo some few silly songs which inThese pages scatter’d lie. The words are Edgar Allan Poe’s,As any man may see,But what a POE-t wrote in prose,Shall make blank verse for me. These trifles are collected and republished chiefly with a […]

When he, that shepherd false, ‘neath Phrygian sails,Carried his hostess Helen o’er the seas,In fitful slumber Nereus hush’d the gales,That he might sing their future destinies.A curse to your ancestral home you takeWith her, whom Greece, with many a soldier boldShall seek again, in concert sworn to breakYour nuptial ties and Priam’s kingdom old.Alas! what […]

Francesca. Crush’d and throng’d are all the placesIn our amphitheatre,‘Midst a sea of swarming facesI can yet distinguish her;Dost thou triumph, dark-brow’d Nina?Is my secret known to thee?On the sands of yon arenaI shall yet my vengeance see.Now through portals fast careeringPicadors are disappearing;Now the barriers nimbly clearingHas the hindmost chulo flown.Clots of dusky crimson […]

To fetch clear water out of the springThe little maid Margaret ran;From the stream to the castle’s western wingIt was but a bowshot span;On the sedgy brink where the osiers clingLay a dead man, pallid and wan. The lady Mabel rose from her bed,And walked in the castle hall,Where the porch through the western turret […]

Fytte I By Wood and Wold[A Preamble] “Beneath the greenwood bough.”–W. Scott. Lightly the breath of the spring wind blows,Though laden with faint perfume,‘Tis the fragrance rare that the bushman knows,The scent of the wattle bloom.Two-thirds of our journey at least are done,Old horse! let us take a spellIn the shade from the glare of […]

Unshriven

Story type: Poetry

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Oh! the sun rose on the lea, and the bird sang merrilie,And the steed stood ready harness’d in the hall,And he left his lady’s bower, and he sought the eastern tower,And he lifted cloak and weapon from the wall. “We were wed but yester-noon, must we separate so soon?Must you travel unassoiled and, aye, unshriven,With […]

Podas Okus

Story type: Poetry

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Am I waking? Was I sleeping?Dearest, are you watching yet?Traces on your cheeks of weepingGlitter, ’tis in vain you fret;Drifting ever! drifting onward!In the glass the bright sand runsSteadily and slowly downward;Hushed are all the Myrmidons. Has Automedon been banish’dFrom his post beside my bed?Where has Agamemnon vanished?Where is warlike Diomed?Where is Nestor? where Ulysses?Menelaus, […]