Fall the shadows on the gullies, fades the purple from the mountain; <br />And the day that's passing outwards down the stairways of the sky, <br />With its kindly deeds and sordid on its folded page recorded, <br />Waves a friendly hand across the range to bid the world "good-bye." <br />Comes a buoyant peal of laughter from the tall, white, slender timber, <br />Rugged mirth that floods the bushland with the joy of brotherhood, <br />With the rustic notes sonorous of a happy laughing chorus, <br />When the kookaburras bless the world because the world is good. <br /> <br />Oh, 'tis good and clean and wholesome when we take the sheep-track <br />homewards, <br />And the kindly kitchen chimney flaps its homely bannerets; <br />All our twigs of effort, shooting golden promise for the fruiting, <br />Bring a night in peace enfolded that a useful day begets. <br />Hopeful dreams, their visions weaving, steel our hearts against to- <br />morrow, <br />And we dare the challenge, strengthened by today's assaults withstood; <br />Beam the pregnant days before us; and another laughing chorus <br />Wraps the world in rippling revelry, because the world is good. <br /> <br />Loving eyes to watch our coming, loving arms to twine around us-- <br />Tender tendrils, soft and silken, firmer far than iron stay-- <br />All our little world upholding, gentle hearts and home enfolding, <br />And a cheery, friendly neighbour dropping in upon his way: <br />Mellow joy the soul refreshes with the scented breath of heaven, <br />With the whispered songs of other spheres, hereafter understood: <br />Angels keep their sure watch o'er us: and another laughing chorus <br />Flings a vesper blessing round the world, because the world is good. <br /> <br />J. O'Brien <br /><br /><br />John O'Brien<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-kookaburras-2/
