Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918.
By Sir Henry Parkes2 . Weary
W
Beating down the baffled soul,—
Thoughts that like a scimitar
Smite us fainting at the goal.
Dead sea fruits whose ashes fall,
Drying up the summer’s rain—
Charnel dust in cups of gall!
Leading from the narrow way,
Tempting strength to actions frail—
Hand to err, and foot to stray.
False and true in mingled fight;
Weary of the wail of wrong,
And the yearning for the night!
Lacerated, crush’d and dumb.
None to know thee as thou art!
When will rest unbroken come?