Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918.
By Dowell OReilly67 . Stars
W
That strain through lofty prison bars
To see the everlasting stars,
Then turn—to slumber as we may:
And here is peace for all who know
The stars still follow where we go,
When heaven and earth have passed away.
From out the ruin of a world
A clustered galaxy is hurled
To glimmer through its steadfast hour:
Shattered to star-dust, fills again
With meteor-flights the immortal brain
That seeks a yet more splendid goal;
Repeats for aye the unknown word
That thrilled the heart of beast and bird,
Ere man had learned to love the flowers.