The fairies rang the Christmas Bells
At 12 o'clock last night!
I heard the rain trail down the street,
Her fingers pale and light,
And yet they spoke, those flower-bells,
Of colour, warm and bright!
Orange and red I seemed to see
On their tall stems asway.
I thought of misty Hawkesbury hills,
Of river reach and bay,
Until they opened wide the gates
Of pleasant Far Away.
The fairies rang the Christmas Bells!
The sky was black with cloud,
Yet through the wash of wind and rain
Those flower-chimes were loud:
And somehow I was glad of them,
And somehow I was proud.
First published in The Courier-Mail, 24 November 1933
