Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/267

 LAMENT OF THE TREK OX. , early and late, With the galling yoke on my neck— To toil and strain 'neath the stinging lash Till I drop—is my wretched fate!

O man! with the horny hand, O man! with the stony heart, Ere the sun goes down, if but for an hour, For dear God's sake, "outspan."

For days and nights I've pulled With my mates your fleecy load, Through parched Karoo and sapless bush, Till we heard the cry of the wild seamew And the breakers thundering loud.

The breeze from the water cool Gave life to our throbbing heart, And we trekked again with right good will, To drink of the promised draught.

In vain, once more in vain, For tied to the hateful yoke, Through the chilly night on the iron road Till the day began to break.

On the cold and barren strand We lay the weary night, Till the God-sent sun arose once more On our limbs,—like iron bands.