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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A WILDFLOWER BY THE WAY, by WILLIAM HENRY OGILVIE Poet's Biography First Line: The sun-rays burned like brands a-fire Last Line: "the wildflowers by the way!" Alternate Author Name(s): Ogilvie, Will Henry Subject(s): Desire; Drovers; Women | |||
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...ARISTOTLE TO PHYLLIS by JOHN HOLLANDER A WOMAN'S DELUSION by SUSAN HOWE JULIA TUTWILER STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN by ANDREW HUDGINS THE WOMEN ON CYTHAERON by ROBINSON JEFFERS TOMORROW by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LADIES FOR DINNER, SAIPAN by KENNETH KOCH GOODBYE TO TOLERANCE by DENISE LEVERTOV A TELL-TALE TRYST by WILLIAM HENRY OGILVIE |
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