Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/247
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The Land of My Desire.
211
CXLVI.
The Land of My Desire.
A wild sea-rover, lined and gray,
To me long since a story told,
Of meadows far and far away
That blossom into flowers of gold;
To me long since a story told,
Of meadows far and far away
That blossom into flowers of gold;
Of streams that were long lullabies
For ever flowing thro’ the vales,
Kissed by a low and loving wind
To music like the Nightingale’s.
For ever flowing thro’ the vales,
Kissed by a low and loving wind
To music like the Nightingale’s.
And I who listened, felt the spell
Take hold of manhood on its throne,
And, careless then of Heaven or Hell,
Took ship unto the vast Unknown.
Take hold of manhood on its throne,
And, careless then of Heaven or Hell,
Took ship unto the vast Unknown.
The morning set the sails afire
With flames that kindled all my blood,
As to the Land of my Desire
I steered across a foaming flood.
With flames that kindled all my blood,
As to the Land of my Desire
I steered across a foaming flood.
Day after day the Sun did turn
From East to West, from sea to sea,
Night after night the Stars did burn
Above the Ocean’s minstrelsy.
From East to West, from sea to sea,
Night after night the Stars did burn
Above the Ocean’s minstrelsy.
And like a far mirage I seemed
To see fair woman-faces shine
Where the great moon-washed spaces gleamed
On league and rolling league of brine.
To see fair woman-faces shine
Where the great moon-washed spaces gleamed
On league and rolling league of brine.