Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/105
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
In Town.
69
The scent of burning tussock on the Canterbury hills,
The richness and the mystery that waken like a lyre
With the clearness of a dreaming that never yet fulfils!—
And we know it, and we know it, but we love the moon of fire!
The richness and the mystery that waken like a lyre
With the clearness of a dreaming that never yet fulfils!—
And we know it, and we know it, but we love the moon of fire!
XXXVIII.
In Town.
We came from the hills where the hot winds blow
And the yellow tussocks wave,
From the long, bright plain where the titris grow,
From the land of the sun, and the frost, and snow,
Where the hearts are strong and brave.
And the yellow tussocks wave,
From the long, bright plain where the titris grow,
From the land of the sun, and the frost, and snow,
Where the hearts are strong and brave.
We had kept the lines in the winter-time
On the wing of the poisoning gang.
From rock to rock in the mountain climb,
When the frosts were keen and the air like wine,
And the shingle faces rang.
On the wing of the poisoning gang.
From rock to rock in the mountain climb,
When the frosts were keen and the air like wine,
And the shingle faces rang.
When the speargrass fire was burning bright,
We had sat in the magic ring—
When the knives were swift and the hearts were light,
With a thousand skins to clean at night,
And one had a song to sing.
We had sat in the magic ring—
When the knives were swift and the hearts were light,
With a thousand skins to clean at night,
And one had a song to sing.
We’re in town, and we met in the noisy street,
And the old strong days came back—
The wind in the tussocks waving sweet,
The mountain ridge, and the plain at our feet,
And the winding rocky track.
And the old strong days came back—
The wind in the tussocks waving sweet,
The mountain ridge, and the plain at our feet,
And the winding rocky track.