John Shaw Neilson

“ All players have sorrows,
And into the play
Old sorrows will saunter—
Old sorrows will stay.
But here is a player
Whose speech is divine!
The Spring is a player,
And old love of mine.
All singers grow heavy:
The hours as they run
Bite up all the blossoms,
Suck up all the sun;
But I know a singer
Delightsome! divine!
The gay love! the green love!
An old love of mine.
This work is in the public domain in Australia because it was created in Australia and the term of copyright has expired. ”

“ How patient he is as he puts out his wings for the blue!
His eyes are as old as the twilight, and calm as the dew.
The bird is my neighbour, he leaves not a claim for a sigh,
He moves as the guest of the sunlight — he roams in the sky. ”

“ Talk to the thin air.
Love came so lightly
I knew not he was there.
Quietly as lovers
Creep at the middle moon.
Softly as players tremble
In the tears of a tune.
Quietly as lilies
Their faint vows declare. ”