Song of Australia (Carleton)

by Caroline Carleton

For works with similar titles, see Song of Australia.

THE GAWLER PRIZE POEM

---

THE SONG OF AUSTRALIA.

By Mrs. C. J. Carleton, West-terrace.

There is a land where summer skies
Are gleaming with a thousand dyes,
Blending in witching harmonies;
And grassy knoll and forest height,
Are flushing in the rosy light,
And all above is azure bright—

Australia!

There is a land where honey flows,
Where laughing corn luxuriant grows,
Land of the myrtle and the rose;
On hill and plain the clust'ring vine
Is gushing out with purple wine,
And cups are quaffed to thee and thine—

Australia!

There is a land where treasures shine
Deep in the dark unfathom'd mine
For worshippers at Mammon's shrine;
Where gold lies hid, and rubies gleam,
And fabled wealth no more doth seem
The idle fancy of a dream—

Australia!

There is a land where homesteads peep
From sunny plain and woodland steep,
And love and joy bright vigils keep;
Where the glad voice of childish glee
Is mingling with the melody
Of nature's hidden minstrelsy—

Australia!

There is a land where, floating free,
From mountain-top to girdling sea,
A proud flag waves exultingly;
And Freedom's sons the banner bear,
No shackled slave can breathe the air,
Fairest of Britain's daughters fair—

Australia

We publish the above at the request of the Committee, by whom the copyright is reserved.