The Bard of Booralee

This poem was published in the Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday 12 December 1925, by a G.B., who after much searching remains a mysterious figure.

 

The Bard of Booralee

Where old thoughts slumber something stirred,

My youth came speading back to me;

And once again a chord was struck

Within my breast. I wished him luck,

That jubilantly piping bird I heard at Booralee.

Night's mantle over all was spread,

It was the hour before the dawn;

And, as I looked up at the sky,

The happy songster to descry,

The Moon that erst her light had shed,

Had now that light withdrawn.

But still the lark sang gaily on,

Nor heeded he the cloud dimmed moon;

Reverberant, the air replied.

As though it felt the minstrel’s pride 

One grand crescendo, and 'twas gone,

That joy-compelling tune.

Ah! Blithesome bard of Booralee,

Why did you cease so soon your song

Had you but known the load of care

That weighed me down, the vibrant air

Might echo still the melody

For which my heart doth long.

Click here to see the copy of the original Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that this was published in (Saturday 12 December 1925).

Have your heard this poem before? Or know of the poet G.B. and any of his or her other work? Or any other poems about the local area? Share your thoughts below.

THE BARD OF BOORALEE. (1925, December 12). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), p. 11. Retrieved November 26, 2010, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16269032