The brooding ghosts of Australian night have gone from the bush and town; <br />My spirit revives in the morning breeze, <br /> though it died when the sun went down; <br />The river is high and the stream is strong, <br /> and the grass is green and tall, <br />And I fain would think that this world of ours is a good world after all. <br /> <br />The light of passion in dreamy eyes, and a page of truth well read, <br />The glorious thrill in a heart grown cold of the spirit I thought was dead, <br />A song that goes to a comrade's heart, and a tear of pride let fall -- <br />And my soul is strong! and the world to me is a grand world after all! <br /> <br />Let our enemies go by their old dull tracks, <br /> and theirs be the fault or shame <br />(The man is bitter against the world who has only himself to blame); <br />Let the darkest side of the past be dark, and only the good recall; <br />For I must believe that the world, my dear, is a kind world after all. <br /> <br />It well may be that I saw too plain, and it may be I was blind; <br />But I'll keep my face to the dawning light, <br /> though the devil may stand behind! <br />Though the devil may stand behind my back, I'll not see his shadow fall, <br />But read the signs in the morning stars of a good world after all. <br /> <br />Rest, for your eyes are weary, girl -- you have driven the worst away -- <br />The ghost of the man that I might have been is gone from my heart to-day; <br />We'll live for life and the best it brings till our twilight shadows fall; <br />My heart grows brave, and the world, my girl, is a good world after all.<br /><br />Henry Lawson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/after-all/
