LONGING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1915, 3 August 1888, Page 29

LONGING.

Oh for a blow of the otrong nor'-wester, Up on the ridges lighting the fern ; Five feet high by the side of the sheep-tracks, What a glorious blaze when it starts to burn ! Oh for a race down the spur to the level, Jumpiug the creek in the gully below ; Once more to hear the drone of the water

Through ths limestone cave in the underflow.

How can I live in this crowded city, With it's thronging people and' smoke and noise ; Oh for the ecent of the wild heath blossom.

And one more ride on the flat with the boys, l Can it be only one year's quick fleeting Since I woke at dawn to the bellbird s chime ; Only one year since I heard the bleating Ot the yarded sheep at the shearing time t Was ifc last spring that we all went camping

Under the cliff at the head of the run ? What glorious rides we had through the ranges

When the mustering work had fairly Degun. Even now I can hear the splashiugs, The barking dogs and the yarder's cheer ;— Ah, the fun we had at the washings,

The jolliest season of all the year. Just last year that I watched for the opening Of the pale green sheaths by the flax-fringed cr<?ek, And afar in the swamp, like a sheet nil golden, Saw the star-3et spikes of the yellow leok. Sweet as then will the sprays of mapu, Velvety purple, be hanging now ; And the delicate jessamine twine its tendrils On bramble thicket and fuchsia bough. When Hgain shall I hunt for tbe berries Of lawyer and pine at the season's turn ? Oh for a rush through, the sweet manuka, And one more scrnmble through tutu and fern ! When again shall I stand and listen lo the moan of the air through the sword-leafed flax, And catch on the night-air the heavy incense From the ti-trees' bunches of spiky wax? How many springs will the smoke of the burnings, From miles away come down oil the breeze ? Oh for the voice of the wekas calling, And the roaring wind iv the tall gum trees I — Phill.