Recently in Self Category

Sun-Child by Myra Morris

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I am the sun's dark child!
   Who can follow
My joyous way through the teeming wild,
   O'er hill and hollow?
I am the sun's dark child!
   None can follow --
None but the wind, warm-breathed and shy;
None but the flashing swallow! --
Only the blue, dissolving sky,
Only the wind can follow!

First published in The Australian Woman's Mirror, 23 October 1928

Author reference sites: AustlitAustralian Dictionary of Biography

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In the Florist's Window by Mabel Forrest

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Out of the florist's window a young face looked at me,
Hung round with graceful tendrils of flower-starred greenery;
Out of a frame of roses, red-hearted, dew wet, sweet,     
A girl's face looked and laughed at the turmoil of the street,  
Hope in the grey eyes dancing; and on the fearless lip
Love had gone forth -- full-freighted the cargo of his ship --
With trust in a future splendid, faith in the things to be,
Out of the florist's window the young face laughed at me!

Out of the florist's window a wan face looked at me,
From among the Easter lilies, deep set in greenery;
Flanked by night blue violets, gold of the deep cupped moss,
To the glare of the roadway the grey eyes, looked across
There was pain on the furrowed brow, on the tight-drawn lip;
Wrecked on the rocks of life was love and his freighted ship.    
With no hope for the future, no trust in the things to be,
From the florist's window the sad face looked out at me.

In the florist's window there is set a mirror wide
Which reflects the faces of the drifting crowd outside,
And where the red heart roses and the sprays of creeper twine
The sad and glad eyes were MY eyes, both of the faces mine!        

First published in The Australian Town and Country Journal, 24 January 1906

Author reference sites: AustlitAustralian Dictionary of Biography

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Things I Want by Leon Gellert

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I want the brawn to brawl
   And the strength to strike;
And I want the right to murder all
   The people I dislike.

I want a girl to love,
   And a bed to lie on;
And (with permission from above)
   A bright young scion.

I want to be a wit
   And extremely clever;
And (should I care to mention it)
   I want to live for ever.

I want my voice to sound
   Like the deepest thunder;
And twelve apostles gathered round
   With eyes full of wonder.

I want a queen to please
   And a king to kick;
And if I'm not content with these
   Then I'm a lunatic.

I want a bag of pelf
   And a spark of hope;
But if I choose to hang myself
   I want sufficient rope.

First published in The Bulletin, 8 July 1936

Author: Leon Maxwell Gellert (1892-1977) was born and educated in Adelaide. He worked as  teracher before enlisting in the AIF. He took part in the Gallipoli landings, was wounded and sent to England to recuperate.  When he returned to Australia in 1916 he published Songs of a Campaign, a collection of war poetry.  He continued to write poetry for the rest of his life and was also literary editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph.  He died in Adelaide in 1977.

Author reference sites: Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography.

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