BONDI STANZAS.
WRITTEN ON A VISIT TO BONDI BEACH, AFTER AN ABSENCE OF SOME YEARS.[1]
Sweet Bondi of the surging waves,
The snowy sands and twinkling shells!
Again I greet the sea that laves
Thy sunny beach, thy coral dells!
How often, in my boyhood's day,
When Fancy soar'd on new-fledg'd wing,
I've lov'd to list the sounding lay
Thy rolling waves incessant sing!
How often with my joyous shout,
Thy shelt'ring rocks have loudly rung,
When sporting free, 'mid truant rout,
I gamboll'd thy wild scenes among!
And still, unchanged, thy charms I feel;
And still I gaze but to admire!
Not years can make those charms unreal;
Nor ages fade thy bright attire!
No ancient tale, no classic lore,
Amid thy scenes like spirits bide;
Nor to thy vales, as spots of fame.
Does history point in glowing pride!
No moss-grown pile, no mystic tower,
Attractive rise to spell-bound ken;
No shrine of druid, king, or saint,
Inspires the pencil or the pen.
Nor do thy heights, approving, smile
O'er fields by martyr'd heroes trod.
Such as at Marathon, erewhile,
Crush'd Persia's hosts, and broke her rod.
But what though Fame her charms deny
While Fancy yields such precious store !
What, though thy past be starless sky !
Thy future's sun will glow the more.
Here, standing 'mid thy girding wood,
I see yon city's limits bound —
As Rome of old her Tiber's flood —
Those mirror'd bays now circling round.
And, gazing landward from the sea.
The wild is chang'd, the desert gone,
And vine-clad hill and fruitful lea
Are vocal with the rustic song.
Again I turn to greet the wave,
And ships unnumber'd stand array'd
And men are there as strong and brave
As ever flush'd in war or trade.
And, fairest sight ! o'er land and main
Waves Freedom's banner uncontroll'd,
And Freedom, chief of heav'nly train.
E'er bounteous, squanders bliss untold.
And Peace, descending, quits the skies,
And Science plies her wondrous hand,
And Art her magic skill supplies
To spread abundance o'er the land.
This, this, sweet Bondi! surging shore!
The alter'd scene shall list thy lay,
When fleeting ages pile their store
Of greatness, gathering day by day.
- ↑ Bondi Beach is situate about five miles south of the Sydney Heads, and on a line, in an easterly direction, with the City of Sydney. It is a mile in extent, and over its entire length the waves of the pacific roll continually in mountainous swells. The tumultuous roar of the waters on the beach, and among the neighbouring rocks, is at all times considerable, and during certain phases of the atmosphere is distinctly heard throughout the eastern quarters of the city, at a distance of six or seven miles.