ORIGINAL POETRY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1521, 26 February 1886, Page 2

ORIGINAL POETRY.

THE BUSH FIRES IN AUSTRALIA.

[The police have received a telegram in respect to bodies found at Clifton Hills 011 11th of December. The police, who went to examine the bodies, also found the charred remains of two others. There is no doubt that these five of the party of eight were the victims of the dreadful fires that are raging, and of thirst. The fate of the remaining three men is believed to he similar— Melbourne Herald, January 13, and Southlnnder, February 13.] Three months of drought and heat that drained the force Of man and bea?t, and then the leaves to.k fire, And fore>ts burned like tinder—forests vast, Umbrageous—with houses and villages Not thinly sown. From branch to branch it spread— The flaine devouring—and became & sheet Of fire that nothing spared. The people then, Whose cots and barns were buildcd ol those trees, Fled in dismay, but not so fast but some, Nay many, by the stretching flames were seized And drawn into the gulf. And terror filled The tribes, of human reason void Their crie3 And roars, the breaking off from mighty trunks, And crackling of the branches half consume,!, Spread anguish through the region. Children held The feet of flying parents. All was lo >t For thousands; utter desolation roundHouses and sheds and horses, cattle, grain, Hay, shelter, food and clothing, nowhere found. Those woods will clothe them-elves again with green, But they whose scorched and shrivelled carcases Lie in the ruts, or moulder 'neath fresh turf Thrown on them hastily—where shall we find Means to console survivors now bereaved Of these and all that earth is wont to give, And knowing only what she takes away! Ckidfon, February 8* MB*. *■ M -