The Witch-Maid, and Other Verses/Colour

by Dorothea Mackellar

COLOUR

The lovely things that I have watched unthinking,
        Unknowing, day by day,
That their soft dyes had steeped my soul in colour
        That will not pass away:—

Great saffron sunset clouds, and larkspur mountains,
        And fenceless miles of plain,
And hillsides golden-green in that unearthly
        Clear shining after rain;

And nights of blue and pearl; and long smooth beaches,
        Yellow as sunburnt wheat,
Edged with a line of foam that creams and hisses,
        Enticing weary feet;

And emeralds, and sunset-hearted opals,
        And Asian marble, veined
With scarlet flame; and cool green jade, and moon-stones,
        Misty and azure-stained;

And almond trees in bloom, and oleanders,
        Or a wide purple sea
Of plain-land gorgeous with a lovely poison
        The evil Darling pea:—

If I am tired I call on these to help me
        To dream—and dawn-lit skies,
Lemon and pink, or faintest, coolest lilac,
Float on my soothed eyes.

There is no night so black but you shine through it,
        There is no morn so drear,
O Colour of the World, but I can find you,
        Most tender, pure, and clear.

Thanks be to God who gave this gift of colour
        Which who shall seek shall find;
Thanks be to God who gives me strength to hold it,
        Though I were stricken blind.

Australia.