Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DIGGER'S GRAVE, by SARAH WELCH First Line: He sought australia's far-famed isle Last Line: And wattle-bloom bestrews the digger's grave. Subject(s): Graves; Murder; Tombs; Tombstones | ||||||||
HE sought Australia's far-famed isle, Hoping that Fortune on his lot would smile, In search for gold. When one short year had flown, He wrote the welcome tidings to his own Betrothed; told how months of toiling vain Made ten-fold sweeter to him sudden gain; With sanguine words, traced with love's eager hand, He bade her join him in this bright south land. Oft as he sat, his long day's labor o'er, In his bush hut, he dreamed of home once more; His thoughts to the old country home in Kent Returned. 'T was Christmas-day, and they two went O'er frost and snow; the Christmas anthem rang Through the old church, which echoed as they sang. That day had Philip courage gained to tell His tale of love to pretty Christabel; And she, on her part, with ingenuous grace, Endorsed the tell-tale of her blushing face. Dream on, true lover! never, never thou Shalt press the kiss of welcome on her brow. E'en now a comrade, eager for thy gold, Above thy fond true heart the knife doth hold -- One stroke, the weapon's plunged into his breast; So sure the aim that, like a child at rest, The murdered digger lies, -- a happy smile Parts the full manly bearded lips the while. Next day they found him. In his death-cold hand, He held his last home letter, lately scanned With love-lit eyes; and next his heart they found A woman's kerchief which, when they unwound, Disclosed a lock of silken auburn hair And portrait of a girl's face, fresh and fair, Dyed with the life-blood of his faithful heart. To more than one eye, tears unbidden start; With reverent hands, and rough, unconscious grace, They laid him in his lonely resting-place. The bright-hued birds true nature's requiem gave, And wattle-bloom bestrews the digger's grave. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SUBJECTED EARTH by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE GRAVE OF MRS. HEMANS by CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER THOSE GRAVES IN ROME by LARRY LEVIS NOT TO BE DWELLED ON by HEATHER MCHUGH ONE LAST DRAW OF THE PIPE by PAUL MULDOON ETRUSCAN TOMB by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL |
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