Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/248
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212
The Land of My Desire.
At times a wayward kiss I quaffed
From some sea-nymph beside my barque,
But as in very joy I laughed
The Stars forsook me, in the dark.
From some sea-nymph beside my barque,
But as in very joy I laughed
The Stars forsook me, in the dark.
One day on the horizon spread,
Like some long cloud surprised in sleep,
I saw an Island lift its head
A little way above the deep.
Like some long cloud surprised in sleep,
I saw an Island lift its head
A little way above the deep.
And there, in the cool shadow-time
I landed, weary of the Sea,
While maidens of the sunny clime
Gave draught on draught of Love to me.
I landed, weary of the Sea,
While maidens of the sunny clime
Gave draught on draught of Love to me.
And when I laid me down to rest
Tired of the dance, the feast and wine,
And full red lips too closely pressed,
Too often and too hot, on mine;
Tired of the dance, the feast and wine,
And full red lips too closely pressed,
Too often and too hot, on mine;
One woke me in the night and said—
“Receive the crown that thou hast won,”
And placing it upon my head
She called me her “beloved one.”
“Receive the crown that thou hast won,”
And placing it upon my head
She called me her “beloved one.”
And there I saw a harlot stand,
The lustre dead in eyes and hair,
Alone with me upon the land
Of my Desire, and . . . my Despair.
The lustre dead in eyes and hair,
Alone with me upon the land
Of my Desire, and . . . my Despair.
D. M. Ross