Here in the womb of the world-here on the tie-ribs of earth Words, and the words of men, flicker and flutter and beat Warning, sorrow and gain, salutation and mirthFor a Power troubles the Still that has neither voice nor feet. They have wakened the timeless Things; they have killed their father Time; Joining hands in the gloom, a league from the last of the sun. Hush! Men talk to-day o'er the waste of the ultimate slime, And a new Word runs between: whispering, "Let us be one!" THE SONG OF THE SONS One from the ends of the earth-gifts at an open doorTreason has much, but we, Mother, thy sons have more! From the whine of a dying man, from the snarl of a wolf-pack freed, Turn, and the world is thine. Mother, be proud of thy seed! Count, are we feeble or few? Hear, is our speech so rude? Look, are we poor in the land? Judge, are we men of The Blood? Those that have stayed at thy knees, Mother, go call them in We that were bred overseas wait and would speak with our kin. Not in the dark do we fight-haggle and flout and gibe; Selling our love for a price, loaning our hearts for a bribe. Gifts have we only to-day-Love without promise or fee Hear, for thy children speak, from the uttermost parts of the sea! THE SONG OF THE CITIES BOMBAY Royal and Dower-royal, I the Queen CALCUTTA Me the Sea-captain loved, the River built, Hail, England! I am Asia-Power on silt, MADRAS Clive kissed me on the mouth and eyes and brow, Wonderful kisses, so that I became Crowned above Queens-a withered beldame now, Brooding on ancient fame. RANGOON Hail, Mother! Do they call me rich in trade? Hail, Mother! SINGAPORE East and West must seek my aid Ere the spent gear may dare the ports afar. The second doorway of the wide world's trade Is mine to loose or bar. Hail, Mother! HONG-KONG Hold me fast; my Praya sleeps Under innumerable keels to-day. Yet guard (and landward), or to-morrow sweeps Thy war-ships down the bay! HALIFAX Into the mist my guardian prows put forth, QUEBEC AND MONTREAL Peace is our portion. Yet a whisper rose, VICTORIA From East to West the circling word has passed, CAPE TOWN Hail! Snatched and bartered oft from hand to hand, Greeting! MELBOURNE Nor fear nor favour won us place, Got between greed of gold and dread of drouth, Loud-voiced and reckless as the wild tide-race That whips our harbour-mouth! Greeting! SYDNEY My birth-stain have I turned to good; Forcing strong wills perverse to steadfastness: The first flush of the tropics in my blood, And at my feet Success! BRISBANE The northern stirp beneath the southern skies I build a Nation for an Empire's need, Suffer a little, and my land shall rise, HOBART Man's love first found me; man's hate made me Hell; For my babes' sake I cleansed those infamies. Earnest for leave to live and labour well, God flung me peace and ease. AUCKLAND Last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite, apart— ENGLAND'S ANSWER Truly ye come of The Blood; slower to bless than to ban; Little used to lie down at the bidding of any man. Flesh of the flesh that I bred, bone of the bone that I bare; Stark as your sons shall be-stern as your fathers were. |