(By May Kidson)
Hast seen gay autumn in her bright array
Of gold and crimson from some sunset ray.
The silvern stream mirror the light above
As 'twere the skies had stopped to lend their love?
And hast thou heard the mocking lyre-bird's song
-------- By Dandenong ?
Hast seen the smothers of the lacy fern
(Tree ferns, since for the heights they ever yearn),
And in the deeps beneath the strange, brown mound
Where, pacing slowly, is the lyre-bird found,
For 'tis to him it ever doth belong.
-------- By Dandenong ?
And has thou heard the perky whip birds flip
As through the tree-ferns soft their footsteps slip ;
The bell-birds dulcet music peal on peal
Through ail the scented silences sweet steal.
And, ah! the lively magpie's matin song.
-------- By Dandenong ?
Dost know when all the tuneful day is done
That every note came from the throat of one
The mocking bird-whose tail's a magic lyre
Glowing through shades like points of secret fire ?
Then thou hast heard the lyre-bird's mocking tongue
-------- By Dandenong
Notes
From the West Australian Newspaper The Sunday Times 10 Dec 1939 p. 23.
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