Like a black, enamoured King whispered low the thunder <br />To the lights of Roslyn, terraced far asunder: <br />Hovered low the sister cloud in wild, warm wonder. <br /> <br />"O my love, Dunedin town, the only, the abiding! <br />Who can look undazzled up where the Norn is riding, -- <br />Watch the sword of destiny from the scabbard gliding! <br /> <br />"Dark and rich and ringing true -- word and look for ever; <br />Taking to her woman heart all forlorn endeavour; <br />Heaven's sea about her feet, not the bounded river!" <br /> <br />"Sister of the mountain mist, and never to be holden <br />With the weary sophistries that dimmer eyes embolden, -- <br />O the dark Dunedin town, shot with green and golden!" <br /> <br />Then a silver pioneer netted in the rift, <br />Leaning over Maori Hill, dreaming in the lift, <br />Dropped her starry memories through the passioned drift: -- <br /> <br />"Once -- I do remember them, the glory and the garden, <br />Ere the elder stars had learnt God's mystery of pardon, <br />Ere the youngest, I myself, had seen the flaming warden -- <br /> <br />"Once even after even I stole ever shy and early <br />To mirror me within a glade of Eden cool and pearly, <br />Where shy and cold and holy ran a torrent sought but rarely. <br /> <br />"And fondly could I swear that this my glade had risen newly, -- <br />Burst the burning desert tomb wherein she lieth truly, <br />To keep an Easter with the birds and me who loved her duly." <br /> <br />Wailing, laughing, loving, hoar, spake the lordly ocean: <br />"You are sheen and steadfastness: I am sheen and motion, <br />Gulfing argosies for whim, navies for a notion. <br /> <br />"Sleep you well, Dunedin Town, though loud the lulling lyre is; <br />Lady of the stars terrene, where quick the human fire is, <br />Lady of the Maori pines, the turrets, and the eyries!"<br /><br />Jessie Mackay<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dunedin-in-the-gloaming/
