ARALUEN by Henry Kendall

River, myrtle rimmed, and set 
   Deep amongst unfooted dells -- 
Daughter of grey hills of wet, 
   Born by mossed and yellow wells; 


Now that soft September lays 
   Tender hands on thee and thine, 
Let me think of blue-eyed days, 
   Star-like flowers and leaves of shine! 


Cities soil the life with rust; 
   Water banks are cool and sweet; 
River, tired of noise and dust, 
   Here I come to rest my feet. 


Now the month from shade to sun 
   Fleets and sings supremest songs, 
Now the wilful wood-winds run 
   Through the tangled cedar throngs. 


Here are cushioned tufts and turns 
   Where the sumptuous noontide lies: 
Here are seen by flags and ferns 
   Summer's large, luxurious eyes. 


On this spot wan Winter casts 
   Eyes of ruth, and spares its green 
From his bitter sea-nursed blasts, 
   Spears of rain and hailstones keen. 


Rather here abideth Spring, 
   Lady of a lovely land, 
Dear to leaf and fluttering wing, 
   Deep in blooms -- by breezes fanned. 


Faithful friend beyond the main, 
   Friend that time nor change makes cold; 
Now, like ghosts, return again 
   Pallid, perished days of old. 


Ah, the days! -- the old, old theme, 
   Never stale, but never new, 
Floating like a pleasant dream, 
   Back to me and back to you. 


Since we rested on these slopes 
   Seasons fierce have beaten down 
Ardent loves and blossoming hopes -- 
   Loves that lift and hopes that crown. 


But, believe me, still mine eyes 
   Often fill with light that springs 
From divinity, which lies 
   Ever at the heart of things. 


Solace do I sometimes find 
   Where you used to hear with me 
Songs of stream and forest wind, 
   Tones of wave and harp-like tree. 


Araluen -- home of dreams, 
   Fairer for its flowerful glade 
Than the face of Persian streams 
   Or the slopes of Syrian shade; 


Why should I still love it so, 
   Friend and brother far away? 
Ask the winds that come and go, 
   What hath brought me here to-day. 


Evermore of you I think, 
   When the leaves begin to fall, 
Where our river breaks its brink, 
   And a rest is over all. 


Evermore in quiet lands, 
   Friend of mine beyond the sea, 
Memory comes with cunning hands, 
   Stays, and paints your face for me. 

Araluen is a stream on the east coast of New South Wales, in the Braidwood district.