What he Overseer Told Me.
129
When the shadows gave way to the glamour of the uprising ambient moon
There came a soft fluttering clamour of clucks from the reedy lagoon,
And then the day suddenly breaking with sleepy bird-cries in the trees
And the perfume of gum blossoms shaking their plumes on the petulant breeze.
At last we arrived at the station, which, save for a pointsman or two
Seemed almost without habitation, and indeed there was little to do.
There came a soft fluttering clamour of clucks from the reedy lagoon,
And then the day suddenly breaking with sleepy bird-cries in the trees
And the perfume of gum blossoms shaking their plumes on the petulant breeze.
At last we arrived at the station, which, save for a pointsman or two
Seemed almost without habitation, and indeed there was little to do.
I remember Marquita stood, slender and upright, and close by her side,
And seeming by contrast to lend her more beauty, stood Billy, wide-eyed.
I knew by her face she was thinking how the black boy would stare at the train,
Already his black eyes were blinking, mouth opening and shutting again,
For, on with a loud, hollow roaring, its windows like great glaring eyes
And a volume of smoke fiercely pouring, the train thundered over the rise
And seeming by contrast to lend her more beauty, stood Billy, wide-eyed.
I knew by her face she was thinking how the black boy would stare at the train,
Already his black eyes were blinking, mouth opening and shutting again,
For, on with a loud, hollow roaring, its windows like great glaring eyes
And a volume of smoke fiercely pouring, the train thundered over the rise
