Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Walter Murdoch (1874–1970). The Oxford Book of Australasian Verse. 1918.

77. A Memory

YOU remember, dear, together

Two children, you and I,

Sat once in the autumn weather,

Watching the autumn sky.

There was some one round us straying

The whole of the long day through,

Who seemed to say, “I am playing

At hide and seek with you.”

And one thing after another

Was whispered out of the air,

How God was a big, kind brother

Whose home is in everywhere.

His light like a smile comes glancing

Through the cool, cool winds as they pass,

From the flowers in heaven dancing

To the stars that shine in the grass.

From the clouds in deep blue wreathing

And most from the mountains tall,

But God like a wind goes breathing

A dream of Himself in all.

The heart of the Wise was beating

Sweet, sweet, in our hearts that day:

And many a thought came fleeting

And fancies solemn and gay.

We were grave in our way divining

How childhood was taking wings,

And the wonder world was shining

With vast eternal things.

The solemn twilight fluttered

Like the plumes of seraphim,

And we felt what things were uttered

In the sunset voice of Him.

We lingered long, for dearer

Than home were the mountain places

Where God from the stars dropt nearer

Our pale, dreamy faces.

Our very hearts from beating

We stilled in awed delight,

For spirit and children were meeting

In the purple, ample night.