The children of the Mist

Frank Dalby Davison 1893 (Hawthorn, Victoria) – 1970 (Melbourne)



Through the valleys, softly creeping
‘Mid the tree-tops, tempest-tossed,
see the cloud-forms seeking, peeping
For the loved ones that are lost.
Not for storm or sunshine resting,
Will they slacken or desist,
Or grow weary in their questing
For the children of the mist.

Where are those children hiding?
Surely they will soon return,
In the gorge again abiding
‘Mid the myrtle and the fern.
Ah! the dusky forms departed
Nevermore will keep their tryst,
And the clouds, alone, sad-hearted,
mourn the Children of the Mist.

E’en the wild bush-creatures, scattered,
Ere they die renew their race,
And the pine, by levin shattered,
Leaves an heir to take his place.
Though each forest thing, forth stealing,
Year by year the clouds have kissed,
Vainly are those white arms feeling
For the children of the mist.

Dead the race, beyond awaking,
Ere its task was well begun;
Human hearts that throbbed to breaking
Are but dust beneath the sun.
Past all dreams of vengeance-wreaking,
Blown where’er the tempests list.
. . . . . . . .

But the cloud-forms still are seeking
For the children of the mist.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

54 sec read
69

Quick analysis:

Scheme ababacaC adadecec fgfgacaC ahahac aC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,106
Words 182
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 7, 2

Frank Dalby Davison

Frank Dalby Davison, also known as F. D. Davison and Freddie Davison, was an Australian novelist and short story writer. Whilst several of his works demonstrated his progressive political philosophy, he is best known as "a writer of animal stories and a sensitive interpreter of Australian bush life in the tradition of Henry Lawson, Joseph Furphy and Vance Palmer." His most popular works were two novels, Man-shy and Dusty, and his short stories. more…

All Frank Dalby Davison poems | Frank Dalby Davison Books

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