Sonnets on the Discovery of Botany Bay by Captain Cook - II - The Second Attempt, Opposed by Two of the Natives

There were but two, and we were forty! Yet,
The Captain wrote, that dauntless couple throve,
And faced our wildering faces; and I said
Lie to awhile! I did not choose to let
A strife go on of little worth to us.
And so unequal! But the dying tread
Of flying kinsmen moved them not: for wet
With surf and wild with streaks of white and black
The pair remained.    O stout Caractacus!
Twas thus you stood when Caesars legions strove
To beat their few, fantastic foemen back
Your patriots with their savage stripes of red!
To drench the stormy cliff and moaning cove
With faithful blood, as pure as any ever shed.

Henry Kendall

Henry Kendall was an Australian poet born on April 18, 1839, known for his lyrical and descriptive poetry reflecting the natural world and the colonial experience of Australia. He faced personal and financial difficulties throughout his life, which deeply influenced his works. His poetry collections include 'Leaves from Australian Forests' and 'Songs from the Mountains'. Kendall passed away on August 1, 1882, leaving a lasting impact on Australian literature.

Henry Kendall

Clari

Henry Kendall, Simple Poetry

Wollongong

Henry Kendall, Simple Poetry

Sutherlands Grave

Henry Kendall, Simple Poetry

Narrara Creek

Henry Kendall, Simple Poetry

English

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Sonnets on the Discovery of Botany Bay by Captain Cook - I - The First Attempt to Reach the Shore

Where is the painter who shall paint for you,
My Austral brothers, with a pencil steeped
In hues of Truth, the weather-smitten crew
Who gazed on unknown shores a thoughtful few
What time the heart of their great Leader leaped
Till he was faint with pain of longing? New
And wondrous sights on each and every hand,
Like strange supernal visions, grew and grew
Until the rocks and trees, and sea and sand,
Danced madly in the tear-bewildered view!
And from the surf a fierce, fantastic band
Of startled wild men to the hills withdrew
With yells of fear! Wholl paint thy face, O Cook!
Turned seaward, after many a wistful look!

Henry Kendall

Sonnets on the Discovery of Botany Bay by Captain Cook - III - The Spot Where Cook Landed

Chaotic crags are huddled east and west
Dark, heavy crags, against a straitened sea
That cometh, like a troubled soul in quest
Of voiceless rest where never dwelleth rest,
With noise like thunder everlasting.
But here, behold a silent space of sand!
Oh, pilgrim, halt! it even seems to be
Asleep in other years. How still! How grand!
How awful in its wild solemnity!
This is the spot on which the Chief did land,
And there, perchance, he stood what time a band
Of yelling strangers scoured the savage lea.
Dear friend, with thoughtful eyes look slowly round
By all the sacred Past tis sacred ground.

Henry Kendall

Sonnets on the Discovery of Botany Bay by Captain Cook - IV - Sutherlands Grave

Tis holy ground! The silent silver lights
And darks undreamed of, falling year by year
Upon his sleep, in soft Australian nights,
Are joys enough for him who lieth here
So sanctified with Rest. We need not rear
The storied monument oer such a spot!
That soul, the first for whom the Christian tear
Was shed on Austral soil, hath heritage
Most ample! Let the ages wane with age,
The grass which clothes this grave shall wither not.
See yonder quiet lily! Have the blights
Of many winters left it on a faded tomb?
Oh, peace! Its fellows, glad with green delights,
Shall gather round it deep eternal bloom!

Henry Kendall

Sonnets - To N. D. Stenhouse, Esq.

Dark days have passed, but you who taught me then
To look upon the world with trustful eyes,
Are not forgotten! Quick to sympathise
With noble thoughts, Ive dreamt of moments when
Your low voice filled with strains of fairer skies!
Stray breaths of Grecian song that went and came,
Like floating fragrance from some quiet glen
In those far hills which shine with classic fame
Of passioned nymphs and grand-browed god-like men!
I sometimes fear my heart hath lost the same
Sweet sense of harmony; but this I know
That Beauty waits on you whereer you go,
Because she loveth child-like Faith! Her bowers
Are rich for it with glad perennial flowers.

Henry Kendall

Sonnet

    There was an Indian, who had known no change,
    Who strayed content along a sunlit beach
    Gathering shells.    He heard a sudden strange
    Commingled noise; looked up; and gasped for speech.
    For in the bay, where nothing was before,
    Moved on the sea, by magic, huge canoes,
    With bellying cloths on poles, and not one oar,
    And fluttering coloured signs and clambering crews.

    And he, in fear, this naked man alone,
    His fallen hands forgetting all their shells,
    His lips gone pale, knelt low behind a stone,
    And stared, and saw, and did not understand,
    Columbus's doom-burdened caravels
    Slant to the shore, and all their seamen land.

John Collings Squire, Sir

Sonnets - II. - Roman Antiquities Discovered At Bishopstone, Herefordshire

While poring Antiquarians search the ground
Upturned with curious pains, the Bard, a Seer,
Takes fire: The men that have been reappear;
Romans for travel girt, for business gowned;
And some recline on couches, myrtle-crowned,
In festal glee: why not? For fresh and clear,
As if its hues were of the passing year,
Dawns this time-buried pavement. From that mound
Hoards may come forth of Trajans, Maximins,
Shrunk into coins with all their warlike toil:
Or a fierce impress issues with its foil
Of tenderness the Wolf, whose suckling Twins
The unlettered ploughboy pities when he wins
The casual treasure from the furrowed soil.

William Wordsworth