A Voice from the City

On western plain and eastern hill Where once my fancy ranged, The station hands are riding still And they are little changed. But I have lost in London gloom The glory of the day, The grand perfume of wattle bloom Is faint and far away.

Brown faces under broad-brimmed hats The grip of wiry hands, The gallops on the frosty flats, Seem dreams of other lands; The camp fire and the stars that blaze Above the mystic plain Are but the thoughts of vanished days That never come again.

The evening star I seldom view – That led me on to roam – I never see the morning star That used to draw me home. But I have often longed for day To hide the few I see, Because they only point and say Most bitter things to me.

I wear my life on pavement stones That drag me ever down, A paltry slave to little things, By custom chained to town. I've lost the strength to strike alone, The heart to do and dare – I mind the day I'd roll my swag And tramp to--God-knows-where.

When I should wait I wander out, When I should go I bide – I scarcely dare to think about The days when I could ride. I would not mount before his eyes, 'Straight' Bushman tall and tan – I mind the day when I stood up  And fought him like a man.

I mind the time when I was shy To meet the brown Bush girls – I've lunched with lords since then and I  Have been at home with earls: I learned to smile and learned to bow And lie to ladies gay – But to a gaunt Bushwoman now I'd not know what to say.

And if I sought her hard bare home From scenes of show and sham, I'd sit all ill at ease and fell The poor weak thing I am. I could not meet her hopeless eyes That look one through and through, The haggard woman of the past Who once thought I was true.

But nought on earth can last for aye, And wild with care and pain, Some day by chance I'll break away And seek the Bush again. And find awhile from bitter years The rest the Bush can bring, And hear, perhaps, with truer ears The songs it has to sing.