A diver, to the deep sea's continent,
Hungry and footsore, desolately went
Plunging his life beneath a treacherous tide,
Blinded, groping, and without a guide ....
He went for bread, and for his life's sweet sake,
Taking the risk that all pearl-divers take --
Only to him were known the sea's dark fears --
(The superstitious say that pearls mean tears!) ....
Strange that through perils must all pearls be bought
To gratify a woman's careless thought,
Clinging about her skin till its pink snow
Rivals in beauty their moon-pallid glow!
Pearls for a kiss ... Pearls for a worthless smile ....
So are they bartered every little while --
Nothing consoles the tears of their despair
What though a princess wears them in her hair!
First published in The Brisbane Courier, 17 May 1930
Author reference site: Austlit
See also.
Hungry and footsore, desolately went
Plunging his life beneath a treacherous tide,
Blinded, groping, and without a guide ....
He went for bread, and for his life's sweet sake,
Taking the risk that all pearl-divers take --
Only to him were known the sea's dark fears --
(The superstitious say that pearls mean tears!) ....
Strange that through perils must all pearls be bought
To gratify a woman's careless thought,
Clinging about her skin till its pink snow
Rivals in beauty their moon-pallid glow!
Pearls for a kiss ... Pearls for a worthless smile ....
So are they bartered every little while --
Nothing consoles the tears of their despair
What though a princess wears them in her hair!
First published in The Brisbane Courier, 17 May 1930
Author reference site: Austlit
See also.
