THE sun-rays burned like brands a-fire, And, with a half-mile spread, In blue grass to their heart's desire The big Windorahs fed. I rode the wing—a frail pretence; What trick doth Love disdain?— And halted at the split-rail fence And fastened Gauntlet's rein. She stood before her cottage home, A maid of dimpled charms, And churned the suds to snow-white foam Across her nut-brown arms. Then flashed those splendid orbs of brown: She whispered soft and low, "I'd love to see this Sydney town Where all the cattle go!" I took her sun-kissed hand and said (And half believed it true): "No lady there has lips so red Or arms so soft as you— "Or eyes one-half so bright!" I chaffed To pass dull time away; But Brown Eyes of the Barwon laughed, "So all you drovers say!" I had no longer need to speak— Chained by those eyes of brown, I kissed her once for Barwon Creek And twice for Sydney town; Then gathered bridle-rein once more And heard a heart-beat say, "The drover's life were dull but for The wildflowers by the way!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BALLAD OF WHITECHAPEL by ISAAC ROSENBERG THE DISAPPOINTMENT by APHRA BEHN DIRGE (1) by RALPH WALDO EMERSON SONNET: WRITTEN ON THE DAY THAT MR. LEIGH HUNT LEFT PRISON by JOHN KEATS SONNET: EUTERPE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH TO THE KING OF THULE by HENRI ALLORGE |